Special Series

Free, Special Events

Juvenile Jungle

狂った果実

Directed by: Kō Nakahira
1956 / 85 mins minutes / Unclassified 15+

An idyllic summer agitating the waters of traditional Japanese cinema

Bathed in an endless summer of gambling, boating and drinking with their rebellious friends, brothers Haruji and Natsuhisa seem set up for another indulgent vacation by the seaside. A chance meeting with Eri has Haruji smitten with first love, and it looks like his quiet nature has won her over. But the explosive, directionless energy and hidden secrets of those around him are about to rampage his experience of love and brotherhood, in an unforgettable blaze off Nakahira’s silver screen.  

Based on the novel Crazed Fruit by Shintarō Ishihara, Juvenile Jungle portrays the sexual revolution of Japan’s disillusioned and privileged post-war youth, often referred to as the taiyōzoku or ‘sun tribe generation’. An immediate cultural phenomenon, it followed the novel in representing the voice of this restless and rebellious crowd in popular culture for the first time. Scored by award-winning composers Masaru Satō and Tōru Takemitsu, Nakahira’s film inspired a new genre for the taiyōzoku, and pioneered stylistic territories that internationally propelled the New Wave movement.

Post-Film Talk Events

Crazed Juveniles: 1950s and the Birth of the Japanese Jazz Movie

Dr Stephen Gaunson (RMIT University) will discuss Juvenile Jungle and its significant influence as a film of the taiyōzoku (‘Sun Tribe Generation’) genre. The discussion will also cover the contextual importance of music in the film and how it represents international cultural influx.

Details

Venue: ACMI, Melbourne
Date: 4 November, 2023 (Sat)
Screening: 15:30 – 17:00
Talk: 17:00 – 17:30

Kō Nakahira: Adventures of a Nikkatsu Journeyman

Dr Russell Edwards will discuss how Juvenile Jungle established Nakahira’s technical merit and thematically daring approach, but also eclipsed his other, equally intriguing films, many of which never received global release

Details

Venue: The Chauvel, Sydney
Date: 25 October, 2023 (Wed)
Screening: 18:00 – 19:30
Talk: 19:30 – 20:00