Chicken Heart

Japanese cinematography is very cool and Chicken Heart is an example of it. The camera seems to be pulled back in most scenes giving the viewer a wide shot of the setting. in many scenes there is minimal camera movement which is great for this type of movie cuz it makes it seems very dull and adds to the element of boredom and loneliness in these guys lives. The use of repetition such as the noodle stand that they met at every night added to the humor and theme of monotony. I don't speak Japanese perfectly, but i speak it well and from what i do know it was a very funny movie. The subtitles were good but the original language is always better. I recommend this and I have seen it aired of TV (AZN network).

This movie's about 3 guys who can't seem to get their lives untracked because they can't or they just don't want to. Iwano is a 27 year-old ex-boxer who dodges and absorbs punches from drunken salarymen for the reasonable rate of 2,000 yen. Maru is an ex-teacher who can't find a job or a new apartment, much to the dismay of his parents. He's got a crush on a girl at the local convenience store, but doesn't have an ounce of smooth. Sada is a older guy in his 50s who just wants to live a carefree life, and basically does, providing the film's most memorable comedic moments. The three of them meet each night to drum up business for Iwano, and to eat oden afterwards at the same yattai stand, "Bar" with the constantly tinkering shop owner.

I saw a trailer for this in Japan in 2002, a really short clip with just the name of the movie, the release date, and Sada chucking out tissue packets at people whether they wanted them or not. Having been to Japan, that was enough to convince me of the comic potential of the movie, and for the most part it didn't disappoint. The movie goes kind of somber 2/3 of the way through in order for the message to get delivered, but all in all, it's a good movie about the awkward situations people get into while trying to find their way in life.

The name Chicken Heart truly describes the movie, as it is about three men with dreams, which they by person aren't capable of making true. The three men meet at a small noodle stand every night discussing their miserable lives. No one of them really have any greater belief in the future. Pushed by relatives who wish to help them to a better life, the men thrives through the days doing nothing out of the ordinary. Every night they offer drunk business men to try to punch one of them for 2000 yen. In the midst of this, Asada the mysterious one in the trio, buys an old booth. He dreams of sailing around the world and during this turning point the two other men also stumbles into situations that will change their lives.

Chicken Heart is an Office Kitano production. It's directed by Hiroshi Shimizu, but greatly inspired by Takeshi Kitano and wrapped in similar humour. The movie makes a good transition from being a black comedy to be a more serious film about the men's futures and dreams. A must see if you liked Hana-Bi (Fireworks) or Kikujiro no natsu.