This year’s Cinema Rediscovered festival in England invites audiences on a vivid journey into the bold and boundary-pushing world of Japanese cinema. The spotlight falls on two landmark showcases: a rare screening of The Beast to Die (1980) by Tôru Murakawa, and a stunning restoration of four films by the visionary Yasuzô Masumura, presented in 4K thanks to Kadokawa’s recent efforts. These films promise a cinematic experience steeped in intensity, desire, and defiance of convention.

Tôru Murakawa’s “The Beast to Die” – A Noir Masterpiece Reawakened

A standout of the Japanese noir genre, The Beast to Die (Yajû Shisubeshi) is a feverish descent into the psyche of a man on the edge. Played with hypnotic intensity by Yûsaku Matsuda, the film’s protagonist is a war correspondent-turned-bank robber, whose mental unraveling is charted with visceral style and philosophical weight. Murakawa’s direction is sharp, stylish, and unflinching—an explosive critique of postwar disillusionment wrapped in a taut crime thriller.

Rarely screened outside Japan, The Beast to Die offers international audiences a chance to experience one of the era’s most compelling antiheroes and to witness Murakawa’s gripping fusion of existentialism and genre cinema. This screening is a preview ahead of its highly anticipated UK release by Radiance Films in July 2025, marking the first time the film will be widely available to English-speaking audiences in a newly restored edition.

Masumura x Wakao: A 4K Celebration of Collaboration and Subversion

Also featured in the festival is a revelatory Masumura x Wakao program, celebrating the creative partnership between director Yasuzô Masumura and actress Ayako Wakao—a duo that redefined Japanese cinema in the 1950s and 60s with films that challenged societal norms and cinematic form. Thanks to meticulous 4K restorations by Kadokawa, four of their most powerful collaborations will screen in pristine condition:

• Irezumi (1966) – A haunting tale of obsession and transformation, Irezumi (Tattoo) tells the story of a woman forcibly tattooed with a spider by a mysterious artist. As her body becomes a canvas, her sense of agency and revenge takes center stage in this erotic psychological drama.
• Manji (1964) – Based on Jun’ichirō Tanizaki’s novel, this elegantly twisted tale of desire and manipulation explores a taboo lesbian affair that spirals into emotional and psychological chaos. Wakao’s performance is captivating, embodying both vulnerability and dangerous allure.
• The Wife Confesses (1961) – A gripping courtroom drama where a woman’s confession to her husband’s murder unfolds through a complex tapestry of flashbacks, revealing layers of passion, betrayal, and the societal constraints placed upon women.
• The Wife of Seisaku (1965) – Set against the backdrop of the Russo-Japanese War, this tragic romance tells of a soldier and a village outcast whose passionate relationship defies social expectations, with consequences as harrowing as they are poignant.

Each of these films showcases Masumura’s radical vision—a bold critique of conformity, patriarchy, and tradition—brought vividly to life by Wakao’s mesmerizing performances.

A Festival Highlight for Cinephiles and Curiosity Seekers Alike

Whether you’re a long-time admirer of Japanese cinema or a curious newcomer, the Japanese selections at Cinema Rediscovered offer a rare chance to witness works that are as artistically daring as they are thematically resonant. These films don’t just represent a moment in cinema history—they challenge it.

Don’t miss the opportunity to experience these rediscovered treasures on the big screen, fully restored and newly recontextualized for modern audiences.

Full program at this link