Gaea Girls - Shinjuku Boys

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Kim Longinotto and Jano Williams
UK, 2000 / 1995

Kim Longinotto is renowned for creating extraordinarily intimate portraits of women on the fringes of society, tackling controversial topics with sensitivity and compassion. These two films are gripping explorations of the perceptions and complexities of female sexuality in modern Japan.

Gaea Girls follows the gruelling training regime of a group of Japanese professional women wrestlers. Featuring the legendary Chigusa Nagayo, it is a fascinating account of a closely-guarded universe in a country where women are considered docile and subservient.

The Shinjuku Boys are three 'onnabe' - Japanese women who live as men - working as hosts at a Tokyo nightclub for women clients. Filmed at home and at work, they speak frankly about their lives, their hopes and their sexuality.

Excerpt from the Second Run website located HERE

DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Second Run - Region 0 - PAL

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Second Run DVD - Region 0 - PAL
Runtime	1:39:15 + 53:04
Video	1.33:1 and 1.78:1 Anamorphic 16:9 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 7.97 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Fighters
Audio	Japanese (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles	English (fixed)
Features	Release Information: Studio: Second Run Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1 / 1.78:1 Anamorphic 16:9 Edition Details: • 16-page booklet featuring a new essay by author/critic Sophie Mayer and reflections on the films by co-director Jano Williams DVD Release Date: January 25th, 2010 Transparent Keep Case Chapters: 12 + 6

Comments:

So how cool is this? Gaea Girls is kinda like The Maysles brothers do The Wrestler and Shinjuku Boys mazy be the quirkiest yet most human film... ever. What a two-punch combination. Second Run fans should recall Kim Longinotto from her acclaimed documentaries Divorce Iranian Style / Runaway. This was some of the most enjoyment I've had watching a DVD in a long while. I mean, I must lead a very sheltered life - who knew these people even existed? Our species is just amazing!

The image quality belies the lean production roots of both works. Gaea Girls looks the best and is anamorphic in the 1.78 aspect ratio. Both titles are progressively transferred and have fixed English subtitles supporting the Japanese 2.0 channel audio dialogue. Any inferiorities in the gritty, realistic visuals seem quite acceptable. Although detail is not particularly strong on Shinjuku Boys I still found it very watchable.

This package is a single dual-layered disc housing both films (over 2.5 hours worth) and no digital extras. There is a 16-page booklet featuring a new essay by author/critic Sophie Mayer and reflections on the films by co-director Jano Williams.

These are both such unique, honest and human documentary films - I'd like to encourage you to indulge. We've been given another highly interesting package, with clandestine, subversive and amusing content from this label. I hope there is so much more just like this out there in the cinematic ether waiting for a Second Run to share with us. At this price it has fabulous value and our highest recommendation!