Ko Nakahira - The Wild Child of The Sixties

“In the rip of a woman’s skirt and the buzz of a motorboat, sensitive people heard the heralding of a new generation of Japanese film.” This famous quote by master director Nagisa OSHIMA refers to Ko NAKAHIRA’s second film, the scandalous CRAZED FRUIT (1956). NAKAHIRA’s movies were fast-paced, stylish, and pushed the limits of what a studio film could do. Picked from over a thousand applicants by the major studio Shochiku – together with another wild child of style, Seijun SUZUKI – he switched to the studio Nikkatsu to make his directing debut as quickly as possible. His films involve a mixing of revolt and playfulness combined with bewitching formal experimentation. This “modern” feel inspired not only OSHIMA but all of the directors that in Europe and the U.S. became referred to as the “Japanese New Wave”. As the studio system collapsed, NAKAHIRA shot films in Hong Kong and switched to independent production in Japan, but continued his whirlwind exploration of the cinematic form until his early death in 1978, leaving behind many masterpieces of Japanese film.

Julian Ross (University of Leeds) will give an introduction to some of the films and Dr. Alex Zahlten (Harvard University) will give a lecture about THE DEATH OF JAPANESE CINEMA, THE BIRTH OF FILM FROM JAPAN: 1960S TODAY.

The Black Gambler – Devil's Left Hand

The Black Gambler – Devil's Left Hand

  • Kuroi tobakushi – akuma no hidarite
  • 黒い賭博師 悪魔の左手
  • Director: Ko NAKAHIRA
  • Japan 1966, 35mm, 94 min, Japanese with English subtitles
  • Saturday, May 31, 8:30 p.m. Cinema in the German Film Museum

Details

Crazed Fruit

Crazed Fruit

  • Kurutta kajitsu
  • 狂った果実
  • Director: Ko NAKAHIRA
  • Japan 1956, 35mm, 86 min, Japanese with English subtitles
  • Friday, May 30, 8:30 p.m. Cinema in the German Film Museum

Details

Flora on the Sand

Flora on the Sand

  • Suna no ue no shokubutsugun
  • 砂の上の植物群
  • Director: Ko NAKAHIRA
  • Japan 1964, 35mm, 95 min, Japanese with English subtitles
  • Friday, May 30, 10:30 p.m. Cinema in the German Film Museum

Details

The Hunter's Diary

The Hunter's Diary

  • Ryojin nikki
  • 猟人日記
  • Director: Ko NAKAHIRA
  • Japan 1964, 35mm, 123 min, Japanese with English subtitles
  • Sunday, June 1. 8:30 p.m. Cinema in the German Film Museum

Details

Mud Spattered Purity

Mud Spattered Purity

  • Dorodarake no junjo
  • 泥だらけの純情
  • Director: Ko NAKAHIRA
  • Japan 1963, 35mm, 91 min, Japanese with English subtitles
  • Sunday, June 1, 6:00 p.m. Cinema in the German Film Museum

Details

Only on Mondays

Only on Mondays

  • Getsuyobi no Yuka
  • 月曜日のユカ
  • Director: Ko NAKAHIRA
  • Japan 1964, 35mm, 94 min, Japanese with English subtitles
  • Saturyday, May 31, 6:00 p.m. Cinema in the German Film Museum

Details

Summer Storm

Summer Storm

  • Natsu no arashi
  • 夏の嵐
  • Director: Ko NAKAHIRA
  • Japan 1956, 35mm, 87 min, Japanese with English subtitles
  • Friday, May 30, 6 p.m. Cinema in the German Film Museum

Details

That Guy and I

That Guy and I

  • Aitsu to watashi
  • あいつと私
  • Director: Ko NAKAHIRA
  • Japan 1961, 35mm, 105 min, Japanese with English subtitles
  • Saturday, May 31, 4:00 p.m. Cinema in the German Film Museum

Details

Whirlpool of Flesh

Whirlpool of Flesh

  • Onna no uzu to fuchi to nagare
  • おんなの渦と渕と流れ
  • Director: Ko NAKAHIRA
  • Japan 1964, 35mm, 116 min, Japanese with English subtitles
  • Saturday, May 31, 10:30 p.m. Cinema in the German Film Museum

Details