Lust auf Sumo

A brilliant film. A funny, different look at the Japanese sport, "Sumo". A must see.

Although not a million dollar budget Hollywood block buster, a MUST SEE.

6/10 from MaRX.

MaRX.

If this film were made with baseball or football as the subject matter, no one would consider it any different from any of the countless films since The Bad News Bears (1976) that relied on the formula: "smorgasbord of unathletic stereotypes brought together almost by force to compete in sport discover the meaning of teamwork and dedication and beat a good team in the end."

But the subject matter is sumo and the setting a Japan that doesn't respect its traditional sport very much, so it gets a lot more credit for that simple matter.

And yes, this film relies heavily on putting a bunch of stereotypes together. There's the unathletic coward who loves the sport, the fat guy, the inappropriately thin guy, and the girl who wants to compete in a man's sport. Perhaps the most interesting character is the European, in this case. A rugby player, he speaks fluent Japanese, loves to wield it to criticize Japanese society, and is compelled to join the sumo team so he has a place to stay. While he's not a very good actor, the character was very compelling.

Like in The Big Green (1995) or The Mighty Ducks (1992), the stereotypes are EVERYTHING here. The characters are otherwise extremely poorly developed. The fat girl wants to join the sumo team and it's suggested it's because she's in love with the skinny guy, but later on it seems she likes the sport for its own sake. The foreigner doesn't want to compete if he can't cover his thighs (someone who is so serious about Japan presumably knows what sumo is and how it's done, so shouldn't have any special problems with going in in traditional dress? It's not like he needs a hijab for spiritual reasons). The fat guy is Christian for no reason other than for the male protagonist to shout FREEDOM OF RELIGION during competition when a referee seems uncomfortable with seeing him praying. Or perhaps it was simply because all these movies always have to have one Christian guy who prays during the games?

The main place where more development could have really helped, however, is in the character of Misa Shimizu, an attractive young woman who's obsessed with sumo. At one point she goes on a date with the male protagonist, but no romance is implied. The skinny guy is pursuing her apropos of nothing and becomes depressed when she rejects him. At one point it's hinted she feels great admiration, attachment, or even love for the head of the athletic department she works with, but this isn't developed beyond a few lines.

And therein lies the heart of the movie. The only reason to watch it is to see a young Misa Shimizu prance around in a variety of autumn outfits, much like the only reason you'd watch The Big Green is for Olivia D'Abo. Nobody would be talking about this movie 2 months after it came out in theatres if not for that and the fact that it's about a strange sport (sumo). Although the latter shouldn't really have much of an effect either. Who's still talking about Dodgeball (2004)?

Honourable Mentions: The Bad News Bears (1976). Why does Bears work when so many of these movies fall flat? Could it be the iconic performance of Walter Matthau as a comically washed-out and apathetic ex-professional? I think it comes down to the character of The Bad News Bears. See, the Bad News Bears is composed of a bunch of unathletic unsportsmanly stereotypes, but each individual player doesn't matter. The team as a whole seems to have a personality of its own - one that mocks the sport they're playing, makes light of athletics as a whole, and has an irreverant disregard for anything serious. Its purpose and character is extremely well-defined, and you can't expect anything to happen other than what inevitably does.

Shiko Funjatta is a funny, smart, and endearing look at a diverse group of college kids who transform from half-hearted sumo novices (it's college sumo so weight classes keep the wrestlers "normal" sized, as opposed to professional sumo giants) into gung-ho participants who have the time of their lives. Think Bad News Bears, but for adults - though kids love it as well.

This movie, now a classic in Japan, won Best Movie as well as well as Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Director. With this film (budgeted slightly under $1 million U.S.) Director and Writer Masayuki Suo established himself as the premier Japanese movie maker, breathing life into an industry that has been reduced to violence and skin flicks for far too long. After his successful follow-up with the larger budgeted Shall We Dansu? (1996), Suo is on his way to world-wide acclaim and success.

With an interesting premise as well as memorable characters, Sumo Do is an enjoyable movie. It is a movie that geys better as it goes on, with very believable sumo matches.

However, there is some poor directing decisions with sometimes amatuerish camerawork and awkward shots. Some of the dialogue is also delivered (perhaps intentionally) in quick, robotic fashion.

Still, the unique aspects of the film and strength of characterization make it an above average japanese film.

It's not just for Sumo addicts but knowing about it adds adds to the enjoyment. Similar charming films have been made with sports as the focus which in reality have little to do with sports.

There are a great number of films which use this ploy. I recall a track and field (now known as athletics) film from the seventies that explored race relations. An excellent film 'The Harder They Fall' about boxing dealt with crime and the exploitation of fighters. Clint Eastwood's 'Million Dollar Baby' offering was about relationships. 'Men with Brooms was not just about curling'.

So, this is less about Sumo than about traditional values and the Japanese perspective of traditional values. It's a real peek into the Japanese mind, and it's told with a touch of humour. (You get to learn a bit about the great sport of Sumo, too!)