AUDITION (AKA ODISHON)
Released: March 3, 2000
Leave it to the Japanese, specifically director Takashi Miike, to come up with such an unpleasant concept for a film. By unpleasant, I mean that the subject matter is not for the easily shocked. A middle-aged widower and all-around swell guy Aoyama (Ryo Ishibashi) begins to look for a new wife. Upon the suggestion of his movie producer friend Yoshikawa (Jun Kunimura), Aoyama agrees to take part in calling an audition for a new film, but with the ulterior motive of finding himself an "ideal woman". Of the thirty young prospects, only one captures Aoyama's interest - the beautiful, demure Asami (fashion model Eihi Shina in her debut role). It begins rather innocently enough as Aoyama and Asami begin dating. If this were a Hollywood movie, the pair might end up falling in love and live happily ever after. But this is a Japanese film and there's nothing that resembles Hollywood during the remainder of the film. I will not go into details but I must say that this movie WILL make you unsettled and you may not even desire to finish watching it. But stay the course and watch til the bitter end as we witness one of the least predictable endings to what promised to be a loving romance movie. Takashi Miike does not sugar coat his story and the results are anything but Hollywood-like. Not for kids and not even for most adults, "Audition" is sure to leave an imprint in your mind long after you're finished viewing it...
115 Minutes
Omega Project/American Cinematheque