The Japan House London film season The maverick visionary: the cinematic world of Suzuki Seijun continues with Fighting Elegy (1966), the second film in the season and one of the director’s most exuberant and unruly works.
Adapted from the novel by Suzuki Takashi and set in the 1930s, the film follows Nanbu Kiroku, a hot-blooded student whose love of fighting earns him the nickname ‘Kenka (Fighting) Kiroku.’ Expelled from school and transferred from Okayama to Aizu in Fukushima Prefecture, he carves out a reputation for himself among the local thugs through a series of confrontations, all while struggling with his growing affection for Michiko, a schoolgirl in Okayama.
Starring Takahashi Hideki in one of his most celebrated performances, the film brings together Suzuki Seijun’s trademark blend of dynamic action, visual inventiveness and dark humour. Widely regarded as one of the defining achievements of his career, Fighting Elegy demonstrates the director’s remarkable ability to transform popular entertainment into a bold and deeply personal work of cinema.
The screenings are in Japanese with English subtitles. Duration: approx. 86 mins.
*Please note that this movie is rated 15 due to strong violence and is therefore not considered suitable for an audience younger than 15 years old.
For The maverick visionary: the cinematic world of Suzuki Seijun, Japan House London charges a small entry fee of £5 per person. This is to cover the increasing cost of hosting film screenings and to help Japan House London maintain the quality and variety of the films it presents.
Tickets for this event are non-refundable. Please read our Terms and Conditions for Event Tickets before purchasing your ticket.
Guests who are booked to attend the screening can also enjoy 10% off drinks at the Stand on their way in. Please note that the Stand is open until 20:00, Monday–Saturday, and until 18:00 on Sundays.
*Please note that filming and/or photography may take place at this event. Photos and footage of the event may then be used to promote Japan House London, helping more people to discover what we offer. If you have any concerns, please contact us online or contact a member of the team on site.
Main image: Fighting Elegy (1966)