Himizu (ヒミズ - Sion Sono, 2011) English-subtitled trailer

Now out on DVD & Blu-ray from Third Window Films (http://www.thirdwindowfilms.com)

Set after the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, all 14-year-old Yuichi Sumida (Shota Sometani) wants to become is a regular boy and live a decent life. His environment though repeatedly drags him into the mud. He runs his parent's rental boat business, which is located next to a nondescript lake. His mother frequently comes home with different men and soon she leaves him entirely. His father only comes around looking for money. Whenever Yuichi's father is drunk he tells Yuichi "I wish you were dead."

Keiko Chazawa (Fumi Nikaido) is a classmate of Yuichi Sumida. She harbors a severe crush on Yuichi. Keiko's home life isn't much better than Yuichi's. Her mother builds a gallows with a noose in place for Keiko to take her own life. Her mother believes her life would be better off without Keiko.

Under these circumstances, Keiko pays a visit to Yuichi's home. A group of people are lingering nearyby who live in make shift tents on the property. Keiko tries to befriend Yuichi, but she is berated and even physically assaulted. She doesn't get deterred though and sticks around.

One day, the yakuza come by Yuichi's home. They look for Yuichi's father who is nowhere to be found. The men then tell Yuichi that he has to come up with 6 million Yen by tomorrow to pay off his father's debt. Yuichi already heartbroken by his mother's abandonment and abuse from his father nears a tipping point. A string of incidents then occurs that brings Yuichi's world to a screeching halt. Is there light at the end of the tunnel for Yuichi?

• Category

  Film & Animation

[Funkmonkv1]

I didnt hear any popping when i watched it last night.

[thirdwindowfilms]

it depends on your audio system and how high you have it turned up, and it's very infrequent

[Zeitgeist6]

saw it tonight on bluray. Very good movie but I heard this popping sound in the audio many times during the movie. Anyone else hear this or could it be my soundcard/drivers (playing on a multimedia/home theater PC)?

[thirdwindowfilms]

the popping sound is due to Sion Sono recording the audio too high so the original masters peak whenever there are extreme sounds in the film. To stop the popping (which isn't too frequent) the whole soundtrack would have to be lowered, which would mean the dialogue would be very quiet

[Zeitgeist6]

Looks cool! I love Sion Sono's movies.

I don't live in the UK but any news on when the DVD (or preferably Blu-ray) will be released?

[thirdwindowfilms]

DVD and Bluray will be released around the first week of August

[BODOMmETALwolF]

This is one of the greatest films i've had the pleasure of seeing. Made me feel a lot of range of emotions. Definitely worth your time.

[thirdwindowfilms]

please don't download it. It's not expensive to buy and this is not some major studio you're ripping off, but a very small independent distribution company who is going bankrupt trying to get these obscure films available to people in the West who wouldn't have the chance to see them otherwise.

[xOUTSiD3R]

Do anyone know more of these kind of movies? I love it!

[MattTheGreat2008]

This looks awesome, if it was directed by the guy who did Love exposure then it's bound to be great.

[Eris A.]

This movie is excellent!! 

[Ashwara]

Does anyone know the name of the song that starts at about 1 minute?

[José Abel Salazar Lizárraga]

I already saw them both, and are great flicks, based on the same source material, but quite different yes, so you can't even compare the two, but I must admit as it is, that King of Pigs is more raw material, than Himizu, and this is by far the best movie from Sion Sono, I've seen a couple of his, Suicide Club, Strange Circus and Cold Fish.

[satomiwa]

Yes, please support the filmmakers and independant retailers. If there isn't one in your city, you can buy it from one of them online. I bought my copy from Eyesore Cinema in Toronto.

[Freddy Del Rosal]

I haven't seen this one but King of Pigs was good, not perfect, but really enjoyable.

[José Abel Salazar Lizárraga]

we'll see, which is better Himizu or King of Pigs, I seem to know both films are based on the same manga, but King of Pings is animation, though.