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Eli, Eli, Lema Sabachthani (DVD) (Normal Edition) (English Subtitled) (Japan Version) DVD Region 2

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Eli, Eli, Lema Sabachthani (DVD) (Normal Edition) (English Subtitled) (Japan Version)
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Customer Rating: Customer Review Rated Bad 7 - 7 out of 10 (1)
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YesAsia Editorial Description

Director Aoyama Shinji (Eureka, Lakeside Murder Case) creates a unique and disturbing look at the future in Eli, Eli, Rema, Sabachthani?. The title of the film comes from the original Aramaic of Jesus' famous utterance from the cross, "My God, My God, why have you foresaken me?" Set in the year 2015, the World, or Japan at least, has fallen under the grip of a powerful disease, called Lemming Syndrome. The disease induces suicidal tendencies in its victims, and as a result the population has been dropping rapidly.

Seeking seclusion and safety from the disease, two experimental musicians, played by Asano Tadanobu (Ichi The Killer, Vital) and Nakahara Masaya, have moved away to the countryside. However, with the aid of a private detective, a wealthy industrialist manages to track down the duo and approaches them with an unexpected plea. Can they come and help save his daughter (Miyazaki Aoi - Nana) from Lemming Syndrome? Could it be possible that a cure for this disease lies within these two musicians' music? Can they really help?

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Technical Information

Product Title: Eli, Eli, Lema Sabachthani (DVD) (Normal Edition) (English Subtitled) (Japan Version) Eli, Eli, Lema Sabachthani 通常版 (日本版 - 英文字幕) Eli, Eli, Lema Sabachthani 通常版 (日本版 - 英文字幕) エリ・エリ・レマ・サバクタニ (通常版) Eli, Eli, Lema Sabachthani (DVD) (Normal Edition) (English Subtitled) (Japan Version)
Artist Name(s): Asano Tadanobu | Miyazaki Aoi | Nakahara Masaya | Tsutsui Yasutaka | Tsurumi Shingo | Toda Masahiro | Okada Mikiko | Kawazu Yusuke | Erika 淺野忠信 | 宮崎葵 | 中原昌也 | 筒井康隆 | 鶴見辰吾 | 戶田昌宏 | 岡田茉莉子 | 川津祐介 | Erika 浅野忠信 | 宫崎葵 | 中原昌也 | 筒井康隆 | 鹤见辰吾 | 户田昌宏 | 冈田茉莉子 | 川津佑介 | Erika 浅野忠信 | 宮崎あおい | 中原昌也 | 筒井康隆 | つるみしんご | 戸田昌宏 | 岡田茉莉子 | 川津祐介 | エリカ Asano Tadanobu | Miyazaki Aoi | Nakahara Masaya | Tsutsui Yasutaka | Tsurumi Shingo | Toda Masahiro | Okada Mikiko | Kawazu Yusuke | Erika
Director: Aoyama Shinji 青山真治 青山真治 青山真治 Aoyama Shinji
Release Date: 2006-07-26
Publisher Product Code: VPBT-12604
Language: Japanese
Subtitles: English
Place of Origin: Japan
Picture Format: NTSC What is it?
Disc Format(s): DVD
Region Code: 2 - Japan, Europe, South Africa, Greenland and the Middle East (including Egypt) What is it?
Other Information: DVD
Shipment Unit: 1 What is it?
YesAsia Catalog No.: 1004317977

Product Information

[アーティスト/ キャスト]
青山真治 (監督、脚本) / 浅野忠信 / 宮崎あおい / 中原昌也

[テクニカル・インフォメーション]
通常版
製作国 : 日本 (Japan)
公開年 : 2005

[ストーリー]
はこの絶望感に満ちた世界を救えるのか?

[解説]
第58回カンヌ映画祭 正式招待作品^.^浅野忠信、宮崎あおいをはじめとする豪華出演陣!!^.^メイキングディレクションは、芥川賞作家:阿部和重。

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YumCha! Asian Entertainment Reviews and Features

Professional Review of "Eli, Eli, Lema Sabachthani (DVD) (Normal Edition) (English Subtitled) (Japan Version)"

May 24, 2006

In the year 2015, a strange and deadly virus is plaguing humanity. Latching on to the optic nerve it corrupts visual stimulus, bombarding the brain with messages urging it to self destruct. The result - a terminal sense of hopelessness labeled the Lemming Syndrome, a syndrome that has already led to the suicides of millions and threatens forty percent of the remaining population. When a wealthy industrialist discovers that his granddaughter - his sole remaining family member - carries the virus he bends his resources to find a cure, only to discover that there is only one known hope: the music of a pair of experimental noise musicians, music which appears to alleviate Syndrome symptoms in those who encounter it. Rock and roll may save us all.

Starring Japanese cult icon Asano Tadanobu as Mizui, one half of the noise duo, Aoyama Shinji's Eli Eli Lema Sabachthani feels like a continuation of the themes he first raised in An Obsession, the primary difference being that while An Obsession tackled a very specific target - the malaise that gripped Japan following the Aum Cult's sarin gas attacks on the Tokyo subway - Eli's reach is much broader and more universal, tackling the question of human despair.

With a title derived from the last words of Christ on the cross - it translates to "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" - and a story that includes several on screen suicides and walls of squalling noise, Eli sounds as though it should be difficult, grim work to get through, but Aoyama demonstrates an uncommonly light touch throughout. There is no doubt that many will have difficulty with it - an appreciation of the extreme music style will help enormously - but it prods more than challenges, gently probing a wound and offering up just the faintest note of hope.

A film that needs to be experienced rather than synopsized - and preferably experienced with a very good sound system - it nonetheless yields up its core ideas surprisingly easily. The central image of the destructive virus is remarkably potent and versatile, references a host of current troubling issues from literal, potential medical holocaust (AIDS, SARS, West Nile, etc), to human disruption of nature (environmental fallout a la global warming), to the specter of terrorism (a radio announcer refers to the syndrome as "God's own suicide bomber" in the early going), to virtually any contributing factor to the modern malaise or sense of hopelessness. This one simple image stands as a very effective stand in for virtually any factor that could lead to despair. But rather than dwelling on the despair and its causes - which nobody really understands - Aoyama chooses to dwell on the cure, namely the music. And this is where the conversation gets interesting. Why, of all things, should music - and specifically this music - have an effect? Is it the general act of creation that defies despair? Is it that this is a music of defiance? Is it that, with instruments constructed from the rubble of past suicides, this is a music that incorporates and transcends despair? And what role does the individual to be cured play? While Aoyama doesn't provide much in the way of concrete answers he certainly knows a thing or two about asking the right questions while offering intriguing possibilities.

Beyond the undergirding philosophy, Eli Eli is simply a masterfully constructed film, starkly minimal and yet strangely beautiful in its imagery and avoiding any waste in composition or dialogue. The entire cast is excellent, with the strangely metaphysical Asano once again stepping into a role that only he could fill. It is beautifully shot, filled with beautiful images and Aoyama's signature roaming, restless camera style. It is also a surprisingly funny film, particularly in the subtitling, which at one point actually pauses to apologize for a character's crass behavior. Always willing to challenge and experiment, Aoyama may not be the best known of Japan's current crop of directors, but he is without doubt one of the country's most important, vital and distinctive voices, and this is a film that captures him at the top of his game.

The just released Japanese DVD is typically excellent. The image quality is flawless, presenting Aoyama's imagery to great effect. The audio mix is thick and full - a vital point in a film such as this. The optional English subtitles read beautifully. On the whole, just an excellent presentation of a remarkable - and remarkably unusual - film.

by Todd - Twitchfilm.net

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This original content has been created by or licensed to YesAsia.com, and cannot be copied or republished in any medium without the express written permission of YesAsia.com.

Customer Review of "Eli, Eli, Lema Sabachthani (DVD) (Normal Edition) (English Subtitled) (Japan Version)"

Average Customer Rating for this Edition: Customer Review Rated Bad 7 - 7 out of 10 (1)

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November 25, 2006

1 people found this review helpful

Not bad, but not the best. Customer Review Rated Bad 7 - 7 out of 10
I'm not sure what to say about this movie. I bought it mainly because I am a big fan of Tadanobu Asano and Aoi Miyazaki. Overall the movie was sort of slow-paced, but the cinematography was great. It's a movie that you have to have patience to watch. I was just left kind of confused at the end of the film. I just felt that something was missing. This movie is best to rent, or buy for a low price. $45.99 is way to expensive for a movie that has no special features and no extra stuff.
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