Review of Vital (2004) by Sterling T — 11 Aug 2009

Shinya Tsukamoto has made me feel a lot of extreme emotions over the years; inspiration, invigoration + total awe from the Tetsuo films followed by disappointment, boredom + frustration with his follow-ups, Tokyo Fist, Gemini, + Bullet Ballet, but he has never made me cry, until Vital.

Much of the credit must be given to Tadanobu Asano; one of my favorite actors + the star of Ichi: The Killer (the lovable Kakihara), Survive Style +5, Last Life in the Universe, Sharkman + Peach Hip Girl, Zatoichi, + so on.

Actually, Asano worked with Tsukamoto in Gemini as well; a film I saw the premiere of at the Vancouver Film Festival + got to speak to my idol (Shinya) afterwards :).

Vital is a different film for Tsukamoto, it is subdued + sensitive. Usually, his films are packed with fenetic passion on the verge of detonation. The premise, however is pure Tsukamoto; taking place in an anatomy class at a university after a horrible car accident in which one of the medical students was killed + the other has lost his memory of the recent past. The students of course were lovers, + he decides to continue the program which is about to begin the thorough examination + cataloging of cadavers. Before she died, she donated her body to the university for scientific purposes (see where this is going?). So his group's cadaver is his dead girlfriend. I know it sounds ridiculous but the 2nd act of the movie deals, almost exclusively with this unusual coincidence.

This movie is about being cut short, not having the opportunity to let go + how people try to fill the void that is left after death. Throughout the film scenes are abruptly cut; someone will ask a question + before the answer can come the next scene pops up. It's an unsettling feeling to be left wondering, confused + a little bit empty, just as the main character Hiroshi must piece his memory + life back together while under the pressures of med school.

Vital is Tsukamoto's most satisfying + accessible film.

I can't wait for his English debut; Tetsuo 3.