“A dark masterpiece.” - Toronto International Film Festival

One of Japan's ambassadors of extreme cinema, Sion Sono (Cold Fish, MIFF 11; Guilty of Romance, MIFF 11) turns his hand to restaging Furuya Minoru's eponymous manga against the actual disaster-ridden landscapes of the 2011 tsunami.

Focusing on two teenagers - particularly a hard-luck young man forced to oversee the family boat-rental business while fending off the attacks of a drunken father - Himizu mashes stylised violence with natural disaster, family dramas and a bittersweet high-school crush. This comes presented through a visceral and aural onslaught of the most intimidating kind.

Despite the brutality and bloodiness of their reality, the teenagers' plight is remarkably elevated by an inspirational message to never give up.

“Extraordinarily intense and effective.” - Hollywood Reporter

D/S Sion Sono P Haruo Umekawa, Masashi Yamasaki WS GAGA Corporation L Japanese w/English subtitles TD 35mm/2011