2LDK (2003)
Directed by: Yukihiko Tsutsumi
Premise: Two aspiring actresses live together in an apartment and their constant bickering and competition escalates from subtle comments to ultra-violent combat.
What Works: This film has a lot of energy to it and the camera work has a unique visual style. When the violence goes over the top, the action is mostly framed in very simple shots without a lot of camera movement. Formalistic elements are used sparingly and convey the emotional instability of the situation. There is also a very funny black humor element to all of this. The film pokes fun at Japanese culture, human communication, and the trials and tribulations of living with a roommate.
What Doesn’t: The character of Nozomi (Eiko Koike) is a little worse of human being than her roommate Lana (Maho Nonami) and it would have been preferable if our sympathies were a little more balanced between them. This would give the good versus evil binary more berth than the film already gives it and add to the chaos of the situation.
DVD extras: Featurette, Trailers, Press Conference Footage.
Bottom Line: Watching this picture is exciting in the way that it was exciting to see Quentin Tarantino’s first films. The comparison is especially strong given 2LDK‘s fusion of violence and humor. The film is a unique cinematic experience and this could be a breakout hit for director Tsutsumi.
Episode: #14 (August 15, 2004)