Strange Circus

Through my classmate’s recommendation, a few of us gathered at National Museum to watch a Japanese horror film, Strange Circus. This is part of the Japanese Film Festival 2009 which lasted for a week. This year, the organiser handpicked several horror, mystery and supernatural Janapnese movies for this festival. Altogether 12 movies are screened throughout the week and the one i caught is the last movie of this festival.

Some of you may have heard of Sion Sono’s Suicide Circle. Strange Circus is also directed by the same director. The plot goes like this: School principal Ozawa Gozo rapes his daughter, Mitsuko, after she sees her parents having sex. Her mother Sayuri witnesses the rape. Gozo now rapes both of them as he pleases, while his family is undermined by incest, suicide, and murder… such is the erotic novel wheel-bound novelist Taeko sets on to write. She is assisted by Yuji, a young man who is actually on a mission to uncover the reality of this story, of Taeko’s past, and of the locked room in her apartment. But the reality and truth beneath the Grand Guignol nightmares Taeko creates might be too much to bear.

The movie is not gore nor mind torturing. But there is a lot of poetic representations in narrating the inner thoughts and reality. It is confusing I admit. Even when the truth is revealed at the end, I don’t quite know which to believe in. As usual, sex scenes are a must in Japanese films, so does this film. The only thing that continue to stay in my mind is the circus music. Very poetic, very nice.

I think we can visit National Museum every now and then. They really have something unique in plan all year. The next one i want to go is a Glass Percussion.