Audition (1999)

Country of Origin: Japan
Year of Production: 1999
Running Times: 111m (UK - DVD)/115m
Length:
Format: 35mm
Colour Format: colour
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Sound:

DIRECTION

Director: Takashi Miike

CREW

PRODUCTION
Production Company: Omega Project
Executive Producer: Toyohama Yokohama
Producers: Satoshi Fukushima, Akemi Suyama
Line Producer: Junichi Endô

SCRIPT
Novel: Ryu Murakami

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Hideo Yamamoto

EDITING AND POST PRODUCTION
Editor: Yasushi Shimamura

MUSIC
Music: Kôji Endo

SOUND
Sound Effects Editor: Kenji Shibazaki

COSTUMES AND MAKE-UP
Costume Designer: Tomoe Kumagai

SPECIAL MAKE UP EFFECTS
Special Make Up Effects: Yûichi Matsui

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designer: Tatsuo Ozeki

CAST

Lonely widower Aoyama is persuaded by a friend to hold an audition, ostensibly for an actress in their new production, but actually to allow Aoyama to meet a new partner. Aoyama falls for the enigmatic Asami and begins dating her. But Asami has suffered a terrible childhood which has left her emotionally scarred - and Aoyama is about to get a lot more than he ever bargained for...

Featuring the most galvanising change of tone ever seen in a film (what begins as a romantic drama quickly turns into... something else altogether), Audition is a powerful and deeply unsettling piece of work from a master Japanese film-maker at the height of his powers. The scenes of violence will be too strong for many, but it's a film that more than rewards those with the stomach to see it through to the end - a rare horror film that isn't afraid to portray the real effects of suffering, both physical and mental.

France
DVD Distributors: Studio Canal (196 788-2)

Germany
DVD Distributors: Rapid Eye Video (OW-DVD 5088)

Hong Kong
DVD Distributors: Universe (5516)
VCD Distributors: Universe

Japan
Theatrical Distributors: Art Port
Video Distributors: Art Port
DVD Distributors: Pioneer (APD-1001)

Netherlands
Video Distributors: Filmfreak
DVD Distributors: Filmfreak (DF21)

Russia
Video Distributors: Partner Video Film

UK
Theatrical Distributors: Metro Tartan
Video Distributors: Tartan Video
DVD Distributors: Tartan Video (TVD3340)

USA
Theatrical Distributors: Film Forum
Video Distributors: Ventura Distribution/Chimera
DVD Distributors: Ventura Distribution/Chimera (1222-7)

Finland
Rating: K-18

Germany
Rating: 18

Hong Kong
Rating: III

Japan
Rating: R-18

UK
Rating: 18

2000
Rotterdam International Film Festival
FIPRESCI Award: Out of Competition (Takashi Miike - for its narritive freedom, technical mastery of genre and the inventiveness of an important new and prolific director) - winner
KNF Award (Takashi Miike) - winner

2001
Fantasporto
International Fantasy Film Award - Special Mention (Takashi Miike) - winner

2000
January
28: Netherlands - shown at the Rotterdam Film Festival

March
3: Japan - theatrical release

June
11: USA - shown at the Seattle International Film Festival

September
21: Hong Kong - theatrical release
22: Finland - shown at the Helsinki International Film Festival

October
7: Hungary - shown at the Titanic International Filmpresence Festival
17: UK - shown at the Raindance Film Festival
19: Netherlands - theatrical release

2001
January
25: Germany - theatrical release

April
12: Singapore - shown at the Singapore International Film Festival

July
20: Denmark - theatrical release

August
8: USA - theatrical release (in New York)
15: Belgium - theatrical release

September
28: Canada - shown at the Calgary Film Festival

November
15: Switzerland - theatrical release (in German speaking region)

She always gets a part

Audition (Audición) - Spanish title

REFERENCES

PERIODICALS

Film Review no.602 (February 2001) p.32 (UK)
illustrated review

Screen International no.1275 (8 September 2000) p.16 (UK)
illustrated interview

Sight and Sound vol.10 no.3 (March 2000) p.10 (UK)
illustrated festival report

Skrien no.247 (October 2000) pp.18-19 (Netherlands)
illustrated article

Variety 1 November 1999 p.91 (USA)
credits, synopsis, review

NEWSPAPERS

The Times (Section 2) 29 August 2000 p.16 (UK)
review (by James Christopher)

BOOKS

Agitator: The Cinema of Takashi Miike by Tom Mes pp.180-191; 373; 387 (Godalming, Surrey: FAB Press (2003)  ISBN: 1903524213)
illustrated review; credits; DVD availability details

OTHER SOURCES

54th Edinburgh Film Festival Catalogue 13-27 August 2000 p.92 (UK)
illustrated credits, synopsis, review

book into film, romance, hallucinations, psychosis, ballet, torture, dogs

Last Updated: 3 January, 2010