First Look saddles up for Japanese ‘Western’

With the Venice and Toronto film fest premieres behind them and a re-edited package and shorter cut, Celluloid Dreams has found a taker for the multi-genre, swords and gunslingers project entitled Sukiyaki Western Django. Indie distrib First Look Studios are looking to release the homage sometime in the 08' release schedule.

After taking up a bit part in the Quentin Tarantino-produced Hostel, helmer Takashi Miike decided to return the invitation to the director of the Kill Bill films – making it the first time the director starred in a foreign production.

A familiar spaghetti western premise that involves a mysterious stranger arriving into the middle of two clans feuding over hidden loot gets sliced and diced into new Americana-Kabuki-baroque fare: Buddhist temples sit alongside saloons, samurai swords hang from gun belts and sake flows with blood.