Raise the Castle!

I noticed that IMDb indicates that "Chikujô seyo!" is two hours long. However, the DVD I just watched was only about one. Is IMDb mistaken? I don't think so. I truly think the version I just saw was a HEAVILY edited version and if you lived in Japan you might find the DVDs are for the long version. The reason I suspect the two versions is that while i liked the film, it seemed a bit rushed and a few plot elements seem a bit underdeveloped. For example, the strange old lady with the powder was a cool character but who she was, why she was and all was certainly vague.

The film is an interesting fantasy. An old professor believes that back during the age of Japanese castles that there was one in his town--but there is little evidence to support it other than one statue that could have adorned the top. However, in a bizarre twist he gets his answer when three dead samurai return from hundreds of years past--and they have returned to build this castle! Oddly, instead of questioning it, the locals think it's a grand project and begin building one, albeit out of cardboard. It's all quite strange but also enjoyable--particularly if you love Japanese films or history. I would love to see the same sort of idea brought to a Western film---and couple see the same story essentially working in a European or American or African or South American setting. Clever--but I just wish it was longer. why are red outfits digitized? |

Usually it's a good idea to watch a movie before reviewing it. But after spending all morning researching this obscure film, I figured I'd share the info I've found even though I haven't picked up the DVD yet.

First and most obvious, Akira Kurosawa did NOT direct this film. I'm guessing you know that already. But you'd be surprised at how much misinformation there is when you google the UPC code for this DVD (891514001030).

Second, as IMDb correctly states, the full version is 2 hrs long. But that DVD is currently only available in Japan. The international version you're probably considering watching is the 59 minute short film made in 2005 and shown at various film festivals. That's the only version for sale on Amazon, distributed by Cinema Epoch and released on Apr 10, 2007.

The 2 hr version was released in 2009 by some distributor whose name I don't know because I can't read Japanese. I'll try to post their website here and hope IMDb will allow it...

aitech.ac.jp/~tikujo/

I've heard the full version is wonderful. The chopped version is OK, I'm told, but seems incomplete and rushed. I think I'll wait for the real deal myself. Good luck!

The previous reviews note that the 2009 version is longer (about 2 hours) than the 2005 version. I am only aware of this film because I watched the 2009 version as an in-flight movie on a return flight from Tokyo in December 2010. I absolutely loved it, and found it charming and quite moving. A funny mix of Japanese history, culture, and the struggles of modern-day Japan threatening loss of parts of its ancient history and natural beauty.

When I got back to the US I wanted to buy a copy and was pleased to find an English-subtitled release on amazon, but I learned that this was the earlier and shorter 2005 version. The key elements of the story are all the same, but the 2005 version, while enjoyable on its own merits, just didn't have the emotional "oomph" that I felt in the 2009 release I had seen on the plane.

Regrettably as far as I can tell there is no commercial version available outside Japan. However I am making a return visit in 2 months and have put feelers out to friends in-country to see whether it is possible to obtain the Japanese DVD or Blu-Ray. (I just hope the Japanese release may contain the English subtitles I saw in-flight!)