#92. Saya Samurai
Director: Hitoshi Matsumoto
Writer(s): Mitsuyoshi Takasu
Producers: Unknown
Distributor: Rights Available.
The Gist: The story revolves around a retired samurai named Nomi Kanjuro and his rebellious daughter Tae.….(more)
Cast: Takaaki Nomi and Sea Kumada.
List Worthy Reasons…: Big Man Japan and 2009’s Symbol proved that Matsumoto is a comic genius — you still need to have a particular sense of humor/have seen these Japanese imports to get why his absurdist, abstract tone rubs off critics the right way. It just so happens that the filmmaker became a father last year, and while I’m sure that the birth of a child hasn’t mellowed out the filmmaker, it’ll be of interest to see if/how he projects some of the fatherhood issues he might be dealing with, in this — his third film.
Release Date/Status?: Currently filming, Cannes appears to be an outside chance, TIFF in the fall is very likely.