Sion Sono

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Sion Sono
film composer, actor, film producer
SpouseMegumi Kagurazaka
Japanese name
Kanji園 子温
Hiraganaその しおん
Katakanaソノ シオン

Sion Sono (園 子温, Sono Shion, born December 18, 1961) is a Japanese filmmaker, author, and poet. Best known on the

idiosyncratic" career.[4]

Early life

Sion Sono was born in Aichi Prefecture in 1961. As he mentioned in many interviews, at the age of 17 he ran away from home and wandered the streets on the verge of starvation.[5][6] On his first night in Tokyo, he met a woman who lured Sono into a hotel room where she put a knife to her own throat and threatened to commit suicide if he would not help her meet her parents pretending to be her husband. Sono not only agreed but spent several weeks with her family in the countryside, but in the end the woman let him go and gave him a small amount of money. Soon, he began starving again. Then he met a priest from the Unification Church and agreed to join their cult because the priest promised Sono food and shelter. Sono spent some time in the cult but found it extremely funny how the main priest claimed to be God. Soon, Sono fled. Even though the cult was not yet as mighty and powerful as it is nowadays, it strictly prohibited its members to return into normal life and was not easy to get away from. The cultists tracked and followed the runaway. When Sono returned home, he found a letter from the cult on his table. To save himself from the cult, Sono decided to join the terrorist group that was protesting against expansion of the Narita International Airport. Almost everyday their protests grew into fights with the riot police so they were happy to take in one more young and strong soldier. Eventually, Sono managed to leave the terrorist group, and the cult members never showed up again.[7][8]

Upon returning home, Sono entered Hosei University. During his student years he tried himself as a poet and even was published in magazines Eureka and The Modern Poem Book. Then he also started taking his first steps in film directing, making a series of short films on Super 8.[7][8]

Career

1980s – 2000s

In 1985, Sono's short film Ore wa Sono Sion da!!, in which he introduced himself as a punk poet,[9] was selected for the Pia Film Festival. Two years later, in 1987 Sono won the PFF Gran Prix with his film Otoko no Hanamichi (A Man's flower road). The PFF scholarship he spent to create the next movie, his first feature-length 16 mm film Bicycle Sighs (Jitensha Toiki), a coming-of-age tale about two underachievers in perfectionist Japan. Sono co-wrote, directed, and starred in the film.[10][11]

In 1990, Sono moved to San Francisco, and was admitted to University of California, Berkeley; however, he never attended class, or learned English, instead spending his time watching B-movies and porno movies.[12] Soon he dropped his studies and moved to San Francisco, in his own words, ‘to study movies’. As he explained in interviews, he wanted to ‘clear his head from classic cinema’. Upon return to Japan, he ventured into the creation of unconventional, ‘dark entertainment’ art-house.[13][12][1]

In Japan, he wrote and directed his second feature film, The Room (Heya) (1992), a bizarre tale about a serial killer looking for a room in a bleak, doomed Tokyo district. It participated in the

Rotterdam Film Festival.[15]

In 1993-1995, Sono's main project was an art-group named Tokyo GAGAGA.[16] Armed only with their creative ideas and art, group members ‘led a guerilla war against normalization of solitude and loneliness in everyday life’. They seized the busiest streets of Tokyo and filled them with installations and banners.[17][18]

In the following years, Sono directed works such as the drama I Am Keiko (1997),[19] the faux-documentary Utsushimi (2000), and the pink film Teachers of Sexual Play: Modelling Vessels with the Female Body (2000).[20] Also in 2000, Sono released an experimental short film 0cm4, contemplating on colourblindness and epistemology.[21]

In 2001, Sono wrote and directed the horror film

cult following over the years, even spawning a manga adaptation, as well as a companion piece novel written by Sono himself. In 2005, Sono released Noriko's Dinner Table, a prequel to Suicide Club, which also received acclaim. The film received special mention at the 40th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.[22]

In 2005, Sono also released three other films:

Exte: Hair Extensions.[23]

In 2008, Sono directed and wrote the 237 minutes-long epic Love Exposure, which is widely considered his most acclaimed and popular work to date. The film won the Caligari Film Award and the FIPRESCI Prize at Berlin International Film Festival, as well as the Best Asian Film award at the Fantasia Film Festival. Almost a decade later, Sono would release an extended mini-series version of the film titled, Love Exposure: The TV-Show. Love Exposure was the first film in Sono's thematic "Hate" trilogy. In 2009, Sono directed the dramas Be Sure to Share and Make The Last Wish.[24][25][26]

2010s and further

Love Exposure was followed by the second and third installments, Cold Fish, released in 2010, and Guilty of Romance, released in 2011; both were acclaimed, and gained him the Best Director awards at the Yokohama Film Festival and the Hochi Film Awards.[27][28] 2011 saw Sono be recognized in the United States with his work being highlighted in the cinema series Sion Sono: The New Poet presented at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City.[29][30]

In 2011 and 2012 respectively, Sono released two drama films inspired by the

2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster and Tohoku Earthquake: Himizu[31] and The Land of Hope. The films were praised for their simplicity and seriousness compared to Sono's other works, and Himizu won the Marcello Mastroianni Award at the 68th Venice International Film Festival. In 2012, Sono edited and released the film BAD FILM using footage from the production of a massive unreleased underground film he shot in 1995 starring the performance collective Tokyo GAGAGA.[17][16][18]

In 2013, he directed the action-drama

Tokyo Tribe, a hip-hop musical adaptation of the manga of the same name.[34]

In 2015, five films directed by Sono were released:

Fancine Malaga, The Virgin Psychics, an adaptation of the science fiction comedy manga series All Esper Dayo! by Kiminori Wakasugi, and The Whispering Star, a science fiction film which won the NETPAC Award at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival.[37]

In 2016, Sono was one of the directors chosen by Nikkatsu for its Roman Porno Reboot project, which asked five Japanese filmmakers to make a film that abided by the same rules as the studio's popular softcore pornography films released in the 1970s. Sono's film, the surrealist Antiporno, was praised for its exploration of female sexuality and contemplations on such topics as freedom and addiction, patriarchy, sexual objectification.[38][39]

In 2017, Sono directed a sequel to Shinjuku Swan, Shinjuku Swan II. In the same year, he wrote and directed a 9-part horror mini-series titled Tokyo Vampire Hotel, which was produced and released to streaming by Amazon. A special feature-length cut of the show running 2 hours and 22 minutes was shown at various festivals. Also he made a cameo appearance in Meisekimu Genshi's short film Ami. exe.[40]

In 2018, it was announced that Sono was working on his first overseas production and English-language debut, a film titled Prisoners of the Ghostland, starring Nicolas Cage, which was described by Cage as "the wildest movie I've ever made."[41] In 2019, Sono was hospitalized and underwent emergency surgery following a heart attack, temporarily halting pre-production on the film.[42][43]

In 2019, Netflix released The Forest of Love, a crime film written, directed and co-edited by Sono, inspired by the murders of Japanese serial killer Futoshi Matsunaga. An extended, mini-series version of the film, titled The Forest of Love: Deep Cut was also released. In 2020, Sono wrote, directed and edited the film Red Post on Escher Street, which followed a film director's efforts to complete a film, and won the People's Choice Award at the Montreal Festival of New Cinema.[44][45]

Sono co-wrote the 2022 film Moshikashite, Hyūhyū, credited under the pseudonym "Takayuki Yamamoto" to obscure his involvement.[46]

Television

Sono has director and writer credits for two episodes and acted in one episode of the 2006 comedy television mini-series Jikō Keisatsu (Prescription Police) and wrote one episode of the 2007 series Kaette Kita Jikō keisatsu (Before Prescription Police). He directed, wrote, and acted in an episode of the 2013 series

Amazon original mini-series Tokyo Vampire Hotel
.

Reception

In The Hollywood Reporter, Clarence Tsui writes that Sono has "established himself as one of the most idiosyncratic artists of his generation".[1] Often considered a provocateur, Mike Hale of The New York Times argues that he is "the most recognizable, if not the most universally celebrated, director in Japan", which Sono himself explains by stating (in Hale's words) that Japanese critics generally "reserve their approval for work that doesn't 'embarrass' the nation." The director has said, "I do think an international audience understands my work more."[47] Sono is considered an auteur,[48] with his style being characterized by features such as grotesque violence, extreme eroticism, philosophical references, surreal imagery, and complex narratives. Sono's portrayal of women has been a subject of discussion, with some considering his works misogynist, and others claiming they are feminist.[49] Common themes in his works include sex, cinema, cynicism, and modern Japanese society. Sono's work has often been described as belonging to, or being inspired by, the ero guro nansensu genre.[50]

Sexual misconduct allegations

On April 4, 2022, women's magazine Shūkan Josei reported allegations by two actresses and rumors inside the Japanese film industry that Sono has sexually harassed and made unwanted advances towards actresses for years.

Sono released a statement on his website apologizing to everyone he may have disturbed and admitting his "lack of consideration and respect for others" as a filmmaker, but denied many of the allegations and said he would defend himself in court.[51] On May 18, 2022, Sono sued the publisher of Shūkan Josei for damages.[52]

Sono Sion and Shūkan Josei reached a settlement on February 1, 2024, in which Shuukan Josei agreed to delete two articles from April 2022 that originally made the allegations.[53]

Awards

Sono received the following awards for his films:

Sono also received the following nominations for his films:

Filmography

Feature films

Sion Sono's filmography includes:[57]

Year Title Distributor Credited as Notes Ref.
director screenWriter Actor
1986 A Man's Flower Road Yes Yes Yes
Happiness Avenue No No Yes
1988 Decisive Match! Boys Dorm vs Girls Dorm Yes Yes Yes
1990 Bicycle Sighs Yes Yes Yes Co-written with Hisashi Saito.
1991 I Hate You... Not No No Yes
1992 Heya (The Room) Yes Yes No
1994 Otaku No No Yes
1997 Keiko Desukedo (I Am Keiko) Yes Yes No
1998 Dankon: The Man Yes Yes No
1999 Kōshoku Fūfu: Susutte Hoshii No No Yes
2000
Blind Beast vs. Killer Dwarf
 Teruo Ishii Productions, Slow Learner (Japan), Eleven Arts (USA) No No Yes
Seigi no tatsujin: Nyotai tsubo saguri (Teachers of Sexual Play: Modelling Urns with the Female Body) Yes Yes Yes
Utsushimi (The Real Body) Yes Yes Yes Credited as cinematographer.
2001 Suicide Club Earthrise (Japan), TLA Releasing Yes Yes No
2004 Nō-pantsu gāruzu: Movie box-ing2 : Otona ni Nattara (No Pants Girls: Movie Box-ing2) Yes Yes No Anthology series.
2005 Into a Dream Yes Yes No
Noriko's Dinner Table Eleven Arts (global), Tidepoint Pictures Yes Yes No
Hazard Evokative Films, Eleven Arts Yes Yes Yes With Kazuyoshi Kumakiri as contributing writer. Also cameo.
Strange Circus Yes Yes No Credited as composer, cinematographer.
2006 Balloon Club Revisited Yes Yes No
Damejin No No Yes
2007 Exte Toei Company Yes Yes No Screenplay written with Masaki Adachi, Makoto Sanada.
The Insects Unlisted in the Encyclopedia No No Yes Credited as composer.
2008 Love Exposure Omega Project Yes Yes No
Tokyo Gore Police No No Yes
2009 Be Sure to Share Yes Yes No
Make the Last Wish Yes Yes Yes Cameo.
2010 Cold Fish Yes Yes No Co-written with Yoshiki Takahashi.
2011 Himizu Gaga Yes Yes No
Guilty of Romance Yes Yes No Story written by Mizue Kunizane.
2012 The Land of Hope Yes Yes No
Bad Film Yes Yes Yes Credited as Film editor. Shot in 1995, released in 2012.
2013 Why Don't You Play in Hell? Drafthouse Films (USA) Yes Yes No Credited as composer.
2014 Tokyo Tribe Nikkatsu Yes Yes Yes Cameo.
2015 Shinjuku Swan
Sony Pictures Entertainment
 Yes No No
Love & Peace
Asmik Ace Entertainment
 Yes Yes No
Tag
Asmik Ace Entertainment, Universal Pictures Japan (via NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan
)		 Yes Yes No
The Virgin Psychics Gaga Yes Yes No
The Whispering Star Yes Yes No Credited as producer.
2016 Antiporno Nikkatsu Yes Yes No Credited as producer.
2017 Tokyo Vampire Hotel
Amazon Video
 Yes Yes No
Shinjuku Swan II Yes No No
2018 Red Blade No Yes No Screenplay by Toshiki Kimura (as Ichirô Ryû), story by Sion Sono (as Shion Sono).
2019 The Forest of Love Netflix Yes Yes No
2020 State of Emergency
Amazon Studios
 Yes No No Anthology series. [58]
Red Post on Escher Street Yes Yes No Credited as Film Editor (as Shion Sono).
2021 Prisoners of the Ghostland RLJE Films Yes No No First English-language film [59]

Short films

Year Title Credited as
director screenWriter Actor
1984 Love Songs Yes No Yes
1985 I Am Sion Sono!! Yes Yes Yes
1986 Love Yes Yes Yes
1995 Vagina and Virgin Yes Yes No
1998 Kaze (Wind) Yes Yes No
2001 0cm4 Yes Yes No
2001 Father's Day Yes No No
2010 Karma No Yes[a] No
2013
Venice 70: Future Reloaded[b]
 Yes No No
2016 Madly[b] Yes No No
2017 Ami. exe[60] No No Yes
2018 ami.exe[61] No No Yes
2018 The Bastard and the Beautiful World[b] Yes Yes No
2020 The Lonely 19:00[b] Yes Yes No

Bibliography

  • Tokyo Gagaga (1993)
  • Furo de Yomu Gendai Shi Nyuumon (2000)
  • Jisatsu Saakuru: Kanzenban
     (2002)
  • Jikou Keisatsu (2002)
  • Yume no Naka e (2005)

Notes

  1. ^ Story by Alex Paille
  2. ^ a b c d Anthology series.

References

  1. ^ a b c Tsui, Clarence (July 29, 2016). "'The Sion Sono': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  2. ^ Acevedo, Yoselin (January 12, 2017). "'Anti-Porno' Trailer: Japanese Director Sion Sono Returns with a Feminist Take on Sexuality". indiewire.com. IndieWire. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  3. ScreenAnarchy
    . Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  4. ^ Harvey, Dennis (December 15, 2017). "Film Review: 'Antiporno'". variety.com. Variety. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  5. ^ Hoenigman, David F. (July 28, 2009). "channeling chaos – an interview with sion sono". 3ammagazin.com. 3:AM Magazine.
  6. ^ Wilentz, David (September 4, 2009). "10% True, 90% Lies: SION SONO with David Wilentz". The Brooklyn Rail. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  7. ^ a b "An Sabukaru Introduction to Sion Sono". Sabukaru Online. February 5, 2022. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  8. ^ a b David F Hoenigman (June 23, 2009). "Suicide pacts, cults and violence shape director Sion Sono". Japan Today. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  9. ^ Michael Rosser (January 26, 2016). "Berlin completes Forum line-up; focus on punk Japanese films". Screen Daily. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  10. ^ Kathie Smith (August 4, 2016). "A Man's Flower Road by Sion Sono". In Review Online. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  11. ^ "Sion Sono: The New Poet". Museum of Arts and Design. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  12. ^ a b David F. Hoenigman (July 28, 2009). "Channeling Chaos – An Interview with Sion Sono". 3:AM Magazine. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  13. ^ Hjelm 2021, p. 12.
  14. ^ "1985–1996 Sundance Film Festival" (PDF). Sundance Institute. p. 16. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  15. ^ "Japan: Sion Sono". Asia Pacific Screen Awards. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  16. ^ a b "'Bad Film' for bad people: Sion Sono looks back at Tokyo in 1995". Tokyo Reporter. November 27, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  17. ^ a b Pairez, J. (August 12, 2015). "Sion Sono's "Whispering Star"—The Return to Present: A Brief Visit to Dystopia". Tokyo Art Beat. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  18. ^ a b Jarzemsky, J. (July 16, 2013). "NYAFF 2013 Review: Sono Sion's BAD FILM Is By No Means That". Screen Anarchy. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  19. ^ "KEIKO DESU KEDO (I AM KEIKO) by Sion Sono". 29 Torino Film Festival. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  20. ^ Lynch, M. (August 11, 2016). "Teachers of Sexual Play: Modelling Urns With the Female Body by Sion Sono". In Review Online. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  21. ^ Swapnil Dhruv Bose (January 13, 2023). "'0cm4': Sion Sono's exploration of colourblindness and epistemology". Farout Magazine. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  22. KVIFF. July 9, 2005: 2. Retrieved March 18, 2021. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help
    )
  23. ^ "Sion Sono for Love Exposure (Ai no Mukidashi)". Asia Pacific Screen Awards. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  24. ^ Schilling, M. (February 6, 2009). "Telling a lengthy tale of lust and religion". The Japan Times. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  25. ^ Hopkins, K. (January 5, 2022). "The Chaos of Sion Sono's Love Exposure". Japan Nakama. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  26. ^ Sharp, J. (September 10, 2015). "10 great Japanese films of the 21st century". Film Forever. Archived from the original on May 10, 2017. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  27. ^ "'Suicide Club' Director Gets Behind Camera for 'Cold Fish'". BloodyDisgusting. February 15, 2010.
  28. ^ "Five Controversial Arthouse Features from Japanese Filmmaker Sion Sono". Another Magazine. August 20, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  29. ^ "Sion Sono: The New Poet". Museum of Arts and Design. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  30. ^ Abrams, Simon. "Japanese filmmaker Sion Sono is not big on faith and family". Capital. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  31. ^ Miriam Bale (March 13, 2014). "In Japan, Two Teenagers Bond in a Chaotic, Violent World". The NY Times. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  32. ^ "Why Don't You Play in Hell? (Jigoku de naze warui): Venice Review". The Hollywood reporter. August 29, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  33. ^ "TIFF 2013: 12 Years a Slave wins film fest's top prize". Toronto Star. September 15, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  34. ^ "Live-Action Tokyo Tribe Film's Trailer Features a Rap Battle". Anime News Network. August 20, 2014. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
  35. ^ Panos Kotzathanasis (December 24, 2020). "Film Review: Love and Peace (2015) by Sion Sono". Asian Movie Pulse. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  36. ^ Schilling, M. (July 1, 2015). "Sion Sono is back with buckets of blood and a three-faced heroine in 'Tag'". Japan Times. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  37. ^ Mintzer, J. (September 12, 2015). "'The Whispering Star' ('Hiso Hiso Boshi'): TIFF Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  38. ^ Hjelm 2021, p. 12-13, 25-33.
  39. ^ Acevedo, Yoselin (January 12, 2017). "'Anti-Porno' Trailer: Japanese Director Sion Sono Returns with a Feminist Take on Sexuality". IndieWire. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  40. ^ Cinema Nippon. ""ami.exe": A Glitch in Japanese Film". www.google.com. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  41. ^ Nordine, Michael (December 14, 2018). "Nicolas Cage Calls 'Prisoners of the Ghostland' 'The Wildest Movie I've Ever Made'". IndieWire. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  42. ^ "Japanese Auteur Sion Sono Hospitalized After Heart Attack | Hollywood Reporter". www.hollywoodreporter.com. February 7, 2019. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  43. ^ Ehrlich, D. (October 14, 2019). "'The Forest of Love' Review: Sono Sion's Hyper-Violent Netflix Epic About School Girls and Serial Killers". IndieWire. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  44. ^ Escher dori no akai posuto – IMDb, retrieved November 15, 2020
  45. ^ Erlich, D. (February 8, 2021). "'Red Post on Escher Street' Review: Sion Sono's Exhilarating Comedy Argues There Are No Extras in Life". Indie Wire. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  46. ^ 園子温 12月公開映画に「脚本・山本孝之」でステルス復帰！妻・神楽坂恵も"偽名"は「事実」と認める. Smart Flash (in Japanese). November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  47. ^ Hale, Mike (July 12, 2016). "At Japan Cuts Festival, Films by Sion Sono That Don't Fit His Bad-Boy Label". The New York Times. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  48. ^ "Japanese Auteur Sion Sono to Direct Netflix Series | Hollywood Reporter". www.hollywoodreporter.com. October 2018. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  49. ^ Dazed (December 1, 2017). "Your guide to controversial Japanese filmmaker Sion Sono". Dazed. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  50. ^ Lazarus, Lady (June 16, 2015). "Deviant Desires: Erotic Grotesque Nonsense. Part 1 (Introduction)". Lady Lazarus. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  51. ^ "Japan film director Sion Sono accused of sexual harassment". Japan Times. April 6, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  52. ^ 園子温監督、週刊女性側を提訴 「性行為強要」の記事「事実異なる」. The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). May 19, 2022. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  53. ^ "園子温氏、"性加害疑惑"週刊誌訴訟で和解を報告「記事は全文削除されております」【コメント全文】". ORICON NEWS. February 1, 2024. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  54. ^ a b c "19th Fantasia International Film Festival Announces 2015 Winners". IndieWire. August 5, 2015.
  55. ^ "Toronto International Film Festival Announces 2015 Award Winners" (PDF) (Press release). TIFF. September 20, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  56. ^ "Sion Sono". IMDb. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  57. ^ Giampiero Raganelli (December 23, 2011). "Intervista a Sion Sono". Rapporto Confidenziale. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  58. ^ "斎藤工＆ムロツヨシ＆夏帆らが参加、オムニバス映画『緊急事態宣言』配信". Cinema Cafe. July 29, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  59. ^ Welk, Brian (January 31, 2021). "Sundance 2021: What Has Sold So Far, From 'CODA' to 'Flee' (Photos)". TheWrap. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  60. ^ "Ami. exe". August 29, 2017. Archived from the original on July 19, 2022 – via IMDb.
  61. ^ "ami.exe · v.?.?". April 21, 2018. Archived from the original on July 19, 2022 – via IMDb.

Literature

External links

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