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Bullet Ballet. Japan 1998. Directed by Shinya Tsukamoto

Shinya Tsukamoto is best known from his cyborg thriller Tetsuo, and by no means the fans of this particular epic will be surprised. Now Tsukamoto gives us a story of Goda, hard worker whose world collapses down after the suicide of his long-time girlfriend. After a while, Goda becomes obsessed by the guns, as he wants to know why his girl shot herself into head. When wandering in Tokyo's underworld streets, the gang of young criminals rob and beat him badly. One of the gang members, Chisato, was once saved from the death when Goda rescued her and now their ways collide like this.

Tsukamoto makes no compromises. Bullet Ballet is complicated drama with its wandering plot and extraordinary characters - director never even gives a clear explanation to Goda's obsessions. So the viewer is left with something to think about, after Bullet Ballet ends. The use of black & white film and handheld camera isn't giving any entertainment value either, especially when grainy and trembling picture makes following a little difficult. Tsukamoto handles his original style almost perfectly. The world he creates is once again highly fascinating - thanks to odd but interesting characters. Director himself plays the main character Goda and along with Kirina Mano (Chisato) he makes a truly memorable performance.

Bullet Ballet is full of violence, but it is cinematographed and edited in a way that most disturbing beatings and stabbings are shown off-screen. This doesn't reduce the overall effect and power of the movie at all. The characters are driven by violence and most of the time it seems they don't have human feelings of anykind. But in the end, when anxious feelings come up, Tsukamoto gives us few bleak and at the same time heart-breaking scenes that stay in your mind for a while. Like the whole film.

R1 DVD release of ArtsmagicDVD is again made with high quality, where the most important thing - a contrast - in black and white movie, gives no reason to criticism. Before-mentioned grainyness comes from the source material. There is also reasonable (but not surprising) 5.1 surround sound, with optional commentary track of ArtsmagicDVD regular, critic Tom Mes. Also featured : a nice interview with the director Tsukamoto, bio/filmographies, trailers and promo material.