Monsters Club is one strange creature. Visionary Japanese filmmaker Toshiaki Toyoda (whose Nine Souls made a lasting impression at the Festival in 2003) first conceived the film when he read “Industrial Society and Its Future,” the manifesto written by the infamous mathematician and murderer Ted Kaczynski — a.k.a. the Unabomber. Toyoda was unsettled by the realization that the sort of social system Kaczynski warns against bore a striking resemblance to what was already taking place in Japan. Repulsed yet fascinated by Kaczynski’s doomy diagnosis, Toyoda began seriously questioning whether Kaczynski’s actions were at least founded in legitimate ideological claims. These inquiries led him to create the unforgettable character at the centre of this disturbing new cinematic work.
Ryoichi Kakiuchi (Eita) has given up on civilization. Abandoning his unremarkable existence in the city, he starts a new life of isolation and self-sufficiency, residing alone in a secluded cabin on a snow-capped mountain, where his outrage with the modern world manifests itself violently in the mail bombs he sends to the CEOs of various corporations and television networks. Morally confused and socially aberrant, Ryoichi has transformed himself into a kind of monster. But up in his rugged hideaway, he is about to have an encounter with a monster of an altogether different sort.
Toyoda has crafted a film that’s sinister yet surprisingly beautiful and cathartic. Ryoichi’s fateful meeting with the mysterious forest creature sets into motion other revelations, including a visit from his older brother. Monsters Club explores some of the darkest recesses of human nature, but it is also a tale of spiritual survival, and promises discoveries powerful enough to restore the humanity in even the most grotesque beasts among us — and perhaps even revive a sense of hope for our monstrous society. –TIFF
Born in 1969 in Osaka Prefecture. Member of the training institution for professional Japanese chess players while ages of nine to seventeen. He began as screenplay writer for “Checkmate”(91)(directed by Junji Sakamoto), and then wrote for “Biriken”(96)(also directed by Sakamoto). Toyoda also writes for stage plays and comic strips. He made his debut as director with Pornostar (1998). The film earned him the Directors Guild of JAPAN’s award for promising new directors of 1998. He also won the same award at the Michinoku International Mystery Film Festival in 1999. In 2001 he directed Unchain, a five-year document on four boxers fighting their way up until retirement. He directed Blue Spring in 2002. The film ranked second in popularity among mini-theaters. Blue Spring is written by cartoonist Taiyo Matsumoto who is known for Ping Pong. In 2003 he directed 9 Souls, which earned him critics’ acclaim. It depicts how nine inmates rediscover the meaning of life after breaking out of prison… read more
Non so, forse troppe aspettative perché amo il suo cinema, ma mi ha lasciato un po' perplesso.
''But, among 10,000 people living in this town and that village, there are probably about 5 of them around your age who are as talented and capable as you. Every one of them, however, would lose what they have within 5 years. It might be because they have to work or because they simply give up. No kind of talent, power, or resource will stay with us forever. Not even people stay with us either.''
TIFF '11 Worse film I saw at TIFF this year. Mr. Toyoda I want my 72 minutes back. Was a big fan of "9 Souls" and "Blue Spring" but where has that talent gone. Some good work by the d.p. but the script is a mess with absolutely no point or value to conclude from it. The film is like one long voiceover from that person you'd like to avoid. At least it went by quickly.
