Reviews

Gemini

I have a confession. I’ve owned Gemini on DVD for at least two years. I actively search out foreign movies or anything interesting. Much of what I want to see is either from other countries or only released in other countries. I wait until I can order a region 3 copy of Kontrol or my region 2 Spaced box set. I love these little treasures. When one of these fine films finally gets a proper US release it makes me happy. Now I can nag everyone I know to watch Oldboy, The Brotherhood of War, Hero, Kontrol, Audition, and now more Shinya Tsukamoto greats, A Snake of June and Gemini.

Right from the beginning you’re met with the image of rats eating at a rotting animal. Yes, this is Tsukamoto at full speed. In my heart nothing will beat Tetsuo: The Iron Man. In fact Tetsuo is what introduced me to Japanese film. But this my gentle reader, is a rare and skillfully crafted film. Shinya Tsukamoto often gets comparisons to David Lynch. After seeing the library of films Shinya Tsukamoto has to offer David Lynch should be compared to him.

Gemini is heavier on the emotion as all traces of sci-fi, man/machine, and… what’s a good word for metallic snake genitalia? While all of Tsukamoto’s work has themes of who we are, what we think we are, Gemini makes more of an emotional connection with the viewer. The only person to outdo Tsukamoto is Tsukamoto himself in A Snake of June.

All the signature characteristics are here. Abstract imagery, staccato dialogue, a sense of voyeurism, conflict, while never letting up on the gas that feeds the bizarre. All this wrapped around a soundtrack that sounds like Swans outtakes. How can I not love this stuff?

In amidst all my leg humping, perhaps I should fill you in on the story. Yukio is a doctor whose parents don’t approve of his wife who suffers from amnesia. While that’s part of the story the real story is about class. People of privilege will always hold precedence over the lower class. The doctor having to choose which patients to treat is the start of this conflict. The doctor’s patients are nowhere near the end of this conflict.

As the film plays on we find out who appeared to Yukio’s mothering the middle of the night. Who is Ryo (the wife) and what happened in her past and what happened to her memory? What actions will the people who live in the slums take? I always have this feeling Tsukamoto is asking, “Who are we?” His films may reveal we may know very little about ourselves. We all struggle for control.

Gemini is also a movie about people who have secrets and who harbor resentment. Tsukamoto puts all of this on the screen as if it were a dream. No matter what harm comes to the good doctor his concern is always with his wife. But what are Ryo’s concerns? What secrets are being held from Yukio? What has Yukio done to deserve his misfortunes? This dream of confusion and fear all come together in the end like a punch in the face. Fans of Mulholland Drive should enjoy this. Gemini is more than a movie this is art. Most people talk about Takashi Miike but the glory belongs to Shinya Tsukamoto.

Oh yeah, every actor who appears on camera had to shave their eyebrows off.
I love this movie.
9/10
Andy

Rent Gemini at Wild and Woolly. If you’re not already familiar with Shinya Tsukamoto find a new breed of film. Wild and Woolly stocks a number of his films.

<<< Back to reviews