Gakuryu Ishii

Director

January 15, 1957 (69 years)

Hakata, Fukuoka, Japan

Biography

Gakuryu Ishii (石井岳龍 Ishii Gakuryū, born January 15, 1957), formerly known as Sogo Ishii (石井聰互 Ishii Sōgo), is a Japanese filmmaker known for his stylistic punk films, which helped spark the cyberpunk movement in Japan. A number of contemporary filmmakers, including Quentin Tarantino, have cited Ishii's films as an influence.

Filmography

8.5

The Private Detective Mike

Mike Hama, Private Detective, is a chain-smoking, wisecracking tough guy with a weakness for the ladies and a soft spot in his heart, especially for his kid sister Akane. Mike's so down on his luck he'll take any case, from finding a lost pet to spying on cheating spouses. But every now and then, along comes a client with dubious and dangerous case… and that's when Mike shows his stuff.

9.2

Neo Ultra Q

Ultra Q has returned, and continues investigations of monstrous appearances and strange ecological phenomenons.

6.9

Panic in High School

A high school student rallies his classmates into rebelling violently when the administration refuses to take responsibility for the suicide of one of the students.

6.8

Gojoe: Spirit War Chronicle

Benkei, a master fighter and killer, vows never to take another life after his conversion to Buddhism. His faith in pacifism, however, is shaken and ultimately broken by the attacks from a trio of fighters known only as the demons. Taking up his sword once more, he sets out to end their murderous terror.

6.3

Burst City

Set in a barren, futuristic Tokyo of highways and wastelands, a rowdy group of punk bands and their fans gather to protest slow, boring, Japanese living.

6.9

August in the Water

A teenage girl gains supernatural power after an accident and comes to understand her place in the universe.

5.6

Punk Samurai Slash Down

Junoshin Kake is a ronin. To get hired by the Kurokaze Han, he lies and tells them that a religious group is trying to destroy them. He gets hired by the Kurokaze Han, but they learn that Junoshin Kake lied. Junoshin Kake is given the death sentence and he must think of an escape plan.

7.0

The Crazy Family

Shortly after moving to the suburbs, the Kobayashis start to come undone. Convinced a family curse is at the root of their erratic behavior, the man of the house takes it upon himself to course-correct before it takes the last of their sanity.

4.8

Bitter Honey

Akako, a shape-shifting goldfish in the form of a coquettish nymphet clad in diaphanous red dresses, naively plays the role of erotic muse and adoring pet for an aging writer seeking greatness. Things quickly get complicated for the odd couple, however, when the writer's deceased former student/lover enters the picture as a ghost and helps Akako realize her own desires, activating her agency and frustrating the one-sided male fantasy the writer is so keen to continue.

6.8

Electric Dragon 80000V

A violent, guitar-playing, electrically charged boxer faces off against an electronic wizard half-merged with a metallic Buddha.

6.8

Mirrored Mind

An actress suffering from an identity crisis finds herself spirited away from the bustle of Tokyo to a tropical paradise.

5.5

That's It

Samao Daikoku seeks a way out of the underground life that he has led. He is tortured by a gang boss after stealing a hard disk containing personal information on runaways, homeless people and prostitutes, and the mystery behind his past is revealed.

6.6

The Box Man

A photographer becomes intrigued by a mysterious man who has chosen to filter his experience of the world through a cardboard box placed over his head.

5.6

Crazy Thunder Road

When Ken, the leader of the once-notorious biker gang of Tokyo, falls in love with a barmaid, he quickly loses his rebellious ideals. The rest of the gang feels betrayed, especially the reputedly troubled kid Jin who revolts against his former friend.

7.7

Tokyo Blood

Tokyo Blood is an omnibus film of 4 short stories featuring various characters entrapped in Tokyo landscapes.

6.6

Angel Dust

Every Monday, a young woman is murdered in the subway, leading psychiatrist Setsuko Suma to investigate Dr. Rei Aku's deprogramming of former sect members.

6.9

Labyrinth of Dreams

Tomiko falls in love with Niitaka, even though she also suspects him of being the Tokyo bus driver serial killer, who killed his female conductors after tiring of them.

7.1

1/2 Man

A visual documentary of Einstürzende Neubauten, the German underground band, by Japanese cult director Sogo Ishii, made during their 1985 tour of Japan. The band makes an elaborate and remarkably choreographed appearance in the ruins of an old ironworks which was scheduled for demolition; footage of same was incorporated into the movie and a brief appearance on stage.

6.0

Isn't Anyone Alive?

In a Japanese military hospital, a mysterious pandemic strikes and quickly kills seemingly at random. A group of unconnected individuals must come to terms with their own impending deaths, and the fragile absurdity of life.

5.6

Flower of Shanidar

A strange phenomenon takes place. A beautiful flower blooms on a selected woman's body and that flower is called the "Shanidar". When the Shanidar is in full bloom, the flower produces a substance which is then sold at a high cost to develop new drugs. Kenji Otaki works as a researcher at the facility where the Shanidar is grown.