A LAUGHING FROG

WEDNESDAY 5 NOVEMBER AT 9:40PM UGC SHAFTESBURY AVE SCREEN 2

Country Japan Running Time 96 mins Format 35mm Dir Hirayama Hideyuki Prod Fukushima Satoshi, Kubota Suguru S'play Narushima Izuru DoP Shibazaki Kouzou Cast Nagatsuka Kyouzou, Ootsuka Nene, Kunimura Jun, Kitarou, Yukimura Izumi, Mickey Curtis Print Source Open Sesame E ritsuko@open-sesame.jp

A bitingly satirical take on that most hallowed of social institutions, marriage. Like the same director's Out, this barbed family drama is dominated by strong female characters who, by fair means or foul, always end up getting what they want. Deserted by her good-for-nothing husband Ippei for another woman, 33 year-old Ryoko now lives alone, until one day when Ippei turns up on her doorstep on the run from the police for embezzlement. Ryoko allows him to hide out for nine days on the condition that he signs the divorce papers allowing her to embark on a new life. In the meantime, she locks him in the storeroom attached to the living room where, through a small worm-hole, he is forced to bear witness to how she has adapted to life as a single woman, and finds himself not entirely liking what he sees.

A Laughing Frog (the title is play on the Japanese word 'kaeru', which means both 'frog' and 'to come home') is surely paced and compelling, with a string of memorable performances providing plenty of fine comic moments along the way as Ippei finds his nose constantly rubbed in his past transgressions. JS

Hirayama Hideyuki began his career as a freelance AD for famous Japanese directors like Terayama Shuji, Itami Juzo and Oomori Kazuki. His debut as a director was horrorcomedy Maria's Stomach. Since then, he has been making movies at a steady pace and has won numerous awards from festivals around the world. Hirayama is one of the biggest talents in the Japanese film world.