A SNAKE OF JUNE

(ROKUGASTSU NO HEBI)

Directed and Written by Shinya Tsukamoto
Cast: Asuka Kurosawa, Shinya Tsukamoto, Yuji Kotari, Susumu Terajima & Tomorowo Taguchi

2002/77 mins/Color/DTS
1.33:1/Japanese/Japan/NTSC Region 1

Review from the Tartan US DVD

A SNAKE OF JUNE takes us deep into the lives of what seems to be at first an average couple. Rinko (Asuka Kurosawa) is a reserved career woman in her 30s, her husband has an obsession with cleaning everything. He can spend his days cleaning the kitchen sink or bathtub... very exciting. One day, she receives a package that say; "Your husband's secrets". As she opens the package she find loads of pictures of her masturbating. Rinko is embarrased and really don't know what to do. Soon she starts getting phone calls from the photographer, who ask her to do things so she would get the negatives. An now the fun begins... What first seems like a stalker type movie turns into something much more interesting and twisted in the second act but I won't spoil it for you.

Voyeurism, obsession, psychotic sexual paranoia with haunting blue-tinted monochrome color palette would best "describe" Shinya Tsukamoto movie. One thing that is for sure, is that there is no exact or clear explanation for A SNAKE OF JUNE. Shinya Tsukamoto's movie is about the embrasse of the human body and its beauty. Much like his other films, every shots are crafted and studied like a moving painting. Shinya Tsukamoto is an auteur and an artist. Its important to note that A SNAKE OF JUNE won many prizes in festivals around the world; Venice Film Award, Sitges International Film Festival and Fatasporto International Film Festival.

Tartan US released A SNAKE OF JUNE as part of their ever growing Asia Extreme collection. The movie is presented in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio. Due to the movie being shot in 16mm then blow up in 35mm, the image is a little grainy but it certainly adds a lot to the atmosphere of the film. Otherwise the transfer is very nice. There is three audio tracks; DTS, 5.1 Dolby Digital and 2.0 Dolby Digital. All three tracks sound great and give the movie the proper audiophonic atmosphere. We get easy to read optional English and Spanish subtitles.

In the extra department, "Playing A Snake Of June" is an interesting 20 minutes featurette with interviews with the lead and the director talking most of the aspect of the movie. "Shooting A Snake Of June" is another 20 minutes featurette where the director and key members of the crew talk about all the technical aspect of the making of the movie, from the rain to the blue monochrome look and more. "Tartan new Releases" features trailers for A SNAKE OF JUNE, A TALE OF TWO SISTERS, KOMA, OLD BOY and other Tartan US releases and finally there's a rather useless "Photo Gallery" which consist of a few screenshots of the movie. The menus are nicely designed, animated and with music. The movie is separated in 16 chapters, comes in a keep case without a booklet or an inlay card.

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 Review by Kim Dubuisson. All Right Reserved. 2005. ©

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