Review of Fighting Elegy (1966) by Lisa M — 12 Aug 2007

As the third part of the ongoing Seijun Suzuki collection on DVD, Fighting Elegy is the crown jewel in this diverse auteurs? back catalogue. Set in the late Thirties, the story follows high school drop out Kiroku Nanbu struggling to come to terms with his own adolescence conflicting with society & his pubescent self.

Elegy is a work of art, each shot is beautifully crafted; exposing the underbelly of the boy and relishing each awkward moment with a dark edged delight. Though essentially the themes of society, religion and Nanbu?s journey from innocence toward macho fascist are not typical fair for humour; the screenplay by Onibaba director Kaneto Shindo allows Suzuki to handle the reality with satirical aplomb.

Fighting Elegy is perfect classic narrative cinema, with enough artistic flair to remain timeless. It is filled with moments that should be watched, cherished, rewound and watched again.