Cinema’s fascination with dysfunctional families has fuelled some of the finest US entertainment in recent years, from quirky comedies (The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)) and dramas (The Squid And The Whale (2005)) to disturbing documentaries (Capturing The Friedmans (2003)). Of course, Japan has been delving into domestic chaos for decades, examining life behind the white picket fence ever since Ozu’s Tokyo Story back in 1953.
Continuing the long standing tradition of family-based bedlam is the brilliantly titled, Funuke: Show Some Love You Losers!, a black comedy of sorts focusing on the various members of the Wago clan.
When both her parents die in a horrific road accident, failing actress Sumiko Wago (Sato) returns home to rural Japan to claim her share of the inheritance. However, with the money having been spent on the dead father’s debts, and with her agency having finally given her the old heave-ho (for being a terrible actress with a very short temper), Sumiko is forced to settle down at the old homestead for the foreseeable future, where some old wounds are re-opened and certain grudges once again surface.
Flitting between comedy and tragedy, and sometimes managing an effective blend of both, Japanese director Daihachi Yoshida debuts with an effective and claustrophobic tale. Though not nearly as dark and disturbing a domestic probe as say, Takeshi Miike’s Visitor Q (2001), Funuke has a wickedly dark sense of humour, made all the more apparent thanks to terrific performances from Sato and Nagasaku.
While often uneven and a little too long, the performances and odd visual flourish of brilliance (including a very cool Manga sequence) ultimately makes Funuke a memorable experience.
The DVD package is rather disappointing, with some below par visuals and a fairly muted stereo audio option, while the extras are limited to a selection of trailers.
Overall Verdict: An uneven domestic black comedy with touches of brilliance.
Special Features:
Trailers
Reviewer: Lee Griffiths