Review of 9 Souls

Introduction

This is my first review of 2005, or at least the first that I am writing after the period of traditional overindulgence, and reaching the keyboard over my distended stomach is something of a chore. It`s not just the feast of food and drink that has dulled my appetite, a mountain of turkey and mince pies that has causes a cholesterol traffic jam in my arteries, but also the sheer blitzkrieg of sugary saccharine sweet programming that has assaulted my senses from all channels during the holidays. I needed a title to watch that would shake me out of my complacency, a keep fit routine for the senses, a movie that would kick my brain back into gear. 9 Souls is just what the doctor ordered.

The 9 Souls in question refer to the nine prisoners who make a break for freedom at the start of the film. An eclectic collection, delinquents, a drug dealer, murderers and a mad bomber who sneak out with one aim in mind, a stash of loot hidden in a time capsule in the Mt Fuji Elementary School, as related to them by a fellow prisoner. These oddball characters quickly hijack a battered camper van, and follow Torakichi, the de facto leader through the countryside. However, what begins as a darkly comic road movie becomes intensely personal as we learn about each of these characters and follow them on their individual journeys, by turn comic and tragic, and occasionally even surreal.

Video

The picture on this disc is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic ratio. It`s clear and colourful for the most part. There is some minor print damage, and the picture can be soft, with the darker scenes a little indistinct. Strong reds are prone to a little bleeding, and I did notice that there was a small degree of skew at the top of the image, something I usually associate with videotape artefacts. It doesn`t detract from the film though. Also problematic is a poorly placed layer change, right in the middle of some motion, which makes it hideously noticeable. These niggling things are quite disappointing given the outstanding cinematography in this film, a style and a sense of space that really give this film a unique flavour.

Audio

The sound on this disc is a Japanese DD 5.1 soundtrack. The dialogue is clear throughout, and effective use is made of the surrounds in bringing the film to life. Using the Goldilocks metaphor, it`s not too much, not too little, but just right. The music used in the film suits it very well, a rock soundtrack that brings the film to life, starting with the stylish escape sequence over the opening credits. There are two English subtitle tracks for the film, although they only differ in the size of the font used.

Features

The extras on this disc begin with 8 text biographies and filmographies for the director and members of the cast. You`ll also find the original trailer and stills from the promotional material for the film.

There are two interviews with director Toshiaki Toyada.

The first lasts some 40 minutes, presented in a 4:3 regular format, and subtitled of course. He goes into some detail about the film, but the interview is more abstract in spirit, we find out more about him as a person, his philosophy, his way of working. It certainly makes a change from the usual EPK stuff that most interviewees get asked.

Speaking of which, the second interview, lasting seven minutes, focuses more closely on the film itself. It`s also useful as there is no repetition of material between interviews.

Finally there is a feature commentary from Tom Mes, a person knowledgeable, and more importantly verbose on the subject of Japanese cinema. The commentary is informative and covers the film in terms of the story, the characters and the cast. He also provides a background into the culture as it relates to the story that adds further shades to the experience. Mes has a measured delivery, which is only occasionally gappy. However the commentary was a bit of a disappointment on my review copy. A technical flaw meant that the sound would drop out every few minutes, and words would go missing. Unfortunately there are no subtitles for the commentary that could have filled in the gaps.

Conclusion

I have mixed feelings about 9 Souls. When the film had ended, and I removed the disc from the player, I had this indescribable urge to hug the DVD. Then a sense of melancholy set in. Barely a week into 2005 and I may have just seen the best film that I`ll see this year. 9 Souls is most certainly the benchmark by which I`ll be judging new films this year, as it manages an originality, style and passion that is all too absent in modern cinema.

The jailbreak is a common theme in cinema, indeed director Toshiaki Toyada was inspired by The Great Escape to make 9 Souls, but 9 Souls is more inspirational than inspired, as he fashions a tale that is by turns comic, tragic, poetic and spiritual, and is never anything less than compelling and utterly engrossing. At first it seems like your traditional jailbreak as these characters run for their freedom. I love the title sequence as they make their break, a powerful rock soundtrack urging them on, and freeze frame used to introduce each of the oddball crew. Dressed identically, they are initially difficult to distinguish, yet as the film progresses, Toyoda manages to fully flesh out each of these distinct personalities, and tell nine individual stories.

It is very rare to find a film that elicits such emotion, laughter and tears in equal measure without being saccharine and schmaltzy, yet 9 Souls manages to evoke sympathy for these criminals that is unexpected and surprisingly genuine. It helps in that these aren`t the kind of career criminals who are ultimately intent on re-offending as soon as they escape, but rather they are all in search of some form of redemption, to escape their past, or even to make amends in some way. Naturally they all go about it in the wrong way. The shifts between comedy and tragedy are really quite subtle, never telegraphed, and are more effective for it. These hardened criminals, some who haven`t seen a woman in years escape from prison, yet the first thing they do is crash their stolen camper van into a field of sheep. What follows is hilarious. The fact that the disguises that they wear during their escape are always identical is so understated that it`s easy to miss, but is no less funny for that.

As we get to know the characters, we learn about what drives them, and what they seek, their individual stories become more tragic. Kamei just wants to marry his sweetheart, Ushiyama wants a normal life, and Saruwatori wants to see his girlfriend again. Perhaps the most interesting dynamic in the film is that of Torakichi who murdered his son, and Kaneko who killed his father. Once again, all these characters are beautifully drawn, understated for the most part, and it`s our reaction to them that fills in the gaps. The ending is wonderfully ambiguous, but never gimmicky; it`s a moment that leaves you thinking and if possible makes the film even better.

9 Souls is a film about escaping the prisons we make for ourselves. Powerful direction coupled with moving performances makes this an unforgettable experience. Technically the disc is something of a disappointment, a few niggling visual flaws compel me to knock a mark of the overall score. Artsmagic assure us that the sound problem on the commentary is restricted to the review discs only; this won`t affect the retail discs. I cannot recommend this film more. Watch it!