Shell and Joint
| Shell and Joint | |
|---|---|
_poster.jpg) Promotional release poster | |
| Directed by | Isamu Hirabayashi |
| Produced by | Tatsuo Ito Madoka Katsumata |
| Starring | Mariko Tsutsui Keisuke Horibe |
| Music by | Takashi Watanabe |
Release date |
|
Running time | 154 minutes |
| Countries | Japan Finland |
| Language | Japanese |
Shell and Joint is a 2019 film directed by Isamu Hirabayashi and starring Mariko Tsutsui and Keisuke Horibe as co-workers in a Japanese capsule hotel.
The film was screened at the 41st Moscow International Film Festival in April 2019.[1] It had its North American premiere at the Slamdance Film Festival in January 2020.[2]
Cast[edit]
- Mariko Tsutsui as Yoko Sakamoto[3]
- Keisuke Horibe as Nitobe[3]
- Kanako Higashi[2][4]
- Aiko Sato[2][4]
- Hiromi Kitagawa[2][4]
- Atsuko Sudo[2][4]
- Ayano Kudo[2][4]
- Naoto Nojima[2][4]
Release[edit]
Shell and Joint was screened at the 41st Moscow International Film Festival in April 2019.[1]
The film had its North American premiere at the Slamdance Film Festival in January 2020.[2] It was also selected as one of 30 feature films to be screened during the 2020 Japan Cuts film festival, which was held from July 17 to July 30, 2020;[5] the festival took place online as a virtual event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5]
Critical reception[edit]
Film critic Tony Rayns called Shell and Joint "a fascinating puzzle film, both wryly humorous and deeply serious, which sets a new tone in Japanese cinema and opens up new possibilities for narrative cinema. It's the finest new Japanese film I've seen in months."[3] Dylan Andresen of Film Threat praised the film's cinematography but noted a perceived lack of cohesion in its narrative, and called it "not for the faint of heart, short of attention, or shallow of thought. However, if you can scale the one-inch barrier of subtitles and are looking for a film to ignite the scientist or philosopher within then, this film is worth the watch."[6]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Press-Screenings and Press-Conferences' Schedule". Moscow International Film Festival. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Ramos, Dino-Ray (December 2, 2019). "Slamdance Unveils Films In Narrative And Documentary Competition, Sets Return Of Russo Fellowship". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
- ^ a b c "Shell and Joint". Shell and Joint. Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f Means, Sean P. (December 6, 2019). "Slamdance Film Festival picks 20 films for competition and brings back 'Breakout' program for repeat directors". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
- ^ a b Grater, Tom (June 24, 2020). "Japan Cuts Film Fest, North America's Largest Japanese Cinema Event, Selects 42 Films For Digital 2020 Edition". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
- ^ Andresen, Dylan (February 13, 2020). "Shell and Joint". Film Threat. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
