Japan is home to the weird, the wonderful and the worrying. It’s probably no surprise that such a traditionally rigid and regimented society has proved to be a catalyst for some of the most creative and audacious art. When it comes to the extreme and the imaginative, very few directors can match Shinya Tsukamoto. Most famous for his body horror Tetsuo: The Iron Man, and its sequels, he’s on top form in his 1999 film Gemini.
After leaving the military, Dr Yukio (Masahiro Motoki) started a successful medical practice. He also has a beautiful wife, Rin (Ryô). However, she suffers from amnesia and has a mysterious past which remains unknown. This somewhat idyllic existence is suddenly shattered when both his parents are murdered by a stranger who appears to have his face. In order to discover the truth he must confront his past.
Gemini is a strange and transfixing tale of murder and revenge. Tsukamoto meshes period drama with a highly stylised horror to create a film which is both visually captivating and more than a little bizarre. This wrongness is heightened by the use of exaggerated colours and unsettling camera techniques. Based on a short story by Edogawa Ranpo, Gemini tackles the perennial genre trope of twins with an unflinchingly singular vision.
Special features:
- New HD transfer / Audio commentary by Tom Mes, author of Iron Man: The Cinema of Shinya Tsukamoto
- Making of Gemini” featurette directed by Takashi Miike (15 minutes)
- Venice Film Festival featurette (17 minutes)
- Make-up demonstration featurette (6 minutes)
- Behind the Scenes (20 minutes)
- Original Trailer
- First 1000 units come with slipcase featuring new artwork illustrated by Ian McEwan
Gemini is released on Blu-ray by Third Window Films on 2 November.
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