movie world

It never ceases to amaze how, despite being separated by geography, there can be similar artistic movements or genres in vastly different countries. In 1950s America, during the advent of television, film studios tried to attract youth audiences to the cinema with more extreme subject matter which gave rise to a string of movies like Rebel Without a Cause, Blackboard Jungle and The Wild One. Similarly, in 1950s Japan, Nikkatsu tried and failed to introduce audiences to a new genre of Yakuza films called the Taiyozoku, or Sun Tribe, which were lurid tales of decadent upper middle-class Yakuza. Nikkatsu discovered a younger audience that was partial to these type of films, which then led to the studio making similarly-themed pictures dedicated to the youth orientated audiences.

Arrow Academy has sought to bring you a collection of these previously unreleased, almost forgotten, youth movies. These five early films by Seijun Suzuki made between 1958 and 1965 are presented together in a limited edition box set entitled: Seijun Rising.

In 'The Boy Who Came Back' (1958) a young boy named Nobuo Kasahara (Akira Kobayashi) looks to move on from his violent past following his release from a juvenile reform school.

In 'The Wind-of-Youth Group Crosses the Mountain Pass' (1961) a young student joins the ranks of a travelling circus.

'Teenage Yakuza' (1962) follows a young vigilante as he tries to protect his community from a group of notorious gangsters.

In 'The Incorrigible' (1963) a student struggling to keep his violent outbursts under control falls in love with a girl at his new school.

Finally, in 'Born Under Crossed Stars' (1965) a young man faces some tough decisions as he struggles to choose between two girls.

2xBD50 + 2xDVD9 | 1080p AVC, NTSC | 450 minutes | 90.6 Gb + 15.2 Gb + 3% rec
Language: Japanese
Subtitles: English
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama

DISC ONE (Blu-ray or DVD):

The Boy Who Came Back (1958; 99:12)
Theatrical Trailer (3:35)
Still Gallery (23 images)

The Wind-of-Youth Group Crosses the Mountain Pass (1961; 84:35)
Theatrical Trailer (3:51)
Still Gallery (16 images)

Teenage Yakuza (1962; 71:57)
Still Gallery (13 images)

DISC TWO (Blu-ray or DVD):

The Incorrigible (1963; 95:05)
Theatrical Trailer (3:38)
Still Gallery (23 images)

Born Under Crossed Stars (1965; 96:59)
Audio Commentary by film historian Jasper Sharp
Tony Rayns on The Youth Films (39:39)
Theatrical Trailer (3:31)
Still Gallery (20 images)