Seijun Suzuki's Tattooed Life (1965) (Radiance Films)

[MifuneFan]

Radiance Films has just announced a Blu-ray release for Seijun Suzuki's Tattooed Life (1965), releasing on September 24th.

Tattooed Life (LE)

LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES

• High-Definition digital transfer
• Uncompressed mono PCM audio
• Audio commentary by William Carroll, author of Seijun Suzuki and Postwar Cinema (2024)
• Newly edited archival interview with Seijun Suzuki
• Newly edited archival interview with art director Takeo Kimura
• Trailer
• Newly improved English subtitle translation
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow
• Limited edition booklet featuring new writing by Tom Vick and a newly translated archival review of the film
• Limited edition of 3000 copies, presented in full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings

Tetsuo (Hideki Takahashi, Fighting Elegy), a low-level yakuza is double-crossed by his boss and attacked. His younger brother Kenji (Kotobuki Hananomoto, This Transient Life), an aspiring artist with no connections to crime, comes to his aid and kills Tetsuo's assailant. Fearing repercussions from the yakuza they flee to Manchuria where they risk coming under suspicion of rival gangs. Seijun Suzuki (Branded to Kill) remains loyal to the conventions of the yakuza film, but Tattooed Life contains flashes of his later creative genius, including a final act of explosive visual excess that has become one of the director’s all-time classic scenes.

Radiance #70 Tattooed Life (Seijun Suzuki, 1965) New Trailer - YouTube

[bonehica]

Need more Suzuki in my life. This will be mine.

[DukeTogo84]

Had a feeling this was coming, and glad to retire my old HVE DVD. I remember liking this one so will be great to watch it again.

[MifuneFan]

I am surprised Criterion never snatched this one up. I had to do a double-take when I saw it would be for the US too.

[StarDestroyer52]

In for more Seijun Suzuki.

[Lope de Aguirre]

We need an English-friendly "Gate of Flesh" Blu-ray and "Princess Racoon" and "Pistol Opera"!

[DukeTogo84]

Watched Tattooed Life last night. Can't believe the last time I watched this was twenty years ago with the HVE DVD and let me say this release floors the DVD with picture quality. This is one of the best looking Nikkatsu films I've seen.

This qualifies as a Yakuza film, but it sure doesn't feel like one. If I were to label it with a genre title, I think I would simply call it a Suzuki film. His presence is felt in this film, and foreshadows what was to come with his later films. Suzuki was truly ahead of his time and there are so many interesting shots. From the films initial assassination in the rain, to the final duel where Suzuki goes all out with defying expectations of film at the time. His use of colors would be further explored in Tokyo Drifter and it seems like he was punished by Nikkatsu and was not allowed to use color in Branded to Kill.

The story is pretty linear with two brothers on the run, but outside of the maybe the first 10 minutes the film doesn't go in the direction you would expect. This is a film that works well for both the average viewer, but also for those looking for something a bit deeper.

Overall, another solid package from Radiance. They keep giving us a quality product, and I really can't complain. Now hopefully they go after a few more Suzuki films like Kanto Wanderer, and one of my favorites, Underworld Beauty.

[moviemaker]

My US Edition of Tattooed Life just arrived. And at just $27, this was well worth the price. Looking forward to watching over the weekend. Great job again, Radiance.

[Hammerlover]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

Watched Tattooed Life last night. Can't believe the last time I watched this was twenty years ago with the HVE DVD and let me say this release floors the DVD with picture quality. This is one of the best looking Nikkatsu films I've seen.

This qualifies as a Yakuza film, but it sure doesn't feel like one. If I were to label it with a genre title, I think I would simply call it a Suzuki film. His presence is felt in this film, and foreshadows what was to come with his later films. Suzuki was truly ahead of his time and there are so many interesting shots. From the films initial assassination in the rain, to the final duel where Suzuki goes all out with defying expectations of film at the time. His use of colors would be further explored in Tokyo Drifter and it seems like he was punished by Nikkatsu and was not allowed to use color in Branded to Kill.

The story is pretty linear with two brothers on the run, but outside of the maybe the first 10 minutes the film doesn't go in the direction you would expect. This is a film that works well for both the average viewer, but also for those looking for something a bit deeper.

Overall, another solid package from Radiance. They keep giving us a quality product, and I really can't complain. Now hopefully they go after a few more Suzuki films like Kanto Wanderer, and one of my favorites, Underworld Beauty.

I love KANTO WANDERER!

[aschaeffer9]

Criterion putting out branded to kill in 4k gives me hope they might do more suzuki films, I know as soon as I cave on this, it'll end up getting announced

[Lope de Aguirre]

Originally Posted by aschaeffer9

Criterion putting out branded to kill in 4k gives me hope they might do more suzuki films, I know as soon as I cave on this, it'll end up getting announced

"Gate of Flesh", "Yumeji" and "Kagero-za" are the top titles I want on 4K of the Suzuki films I have already seen.
Weird that they didn't put out "Tokyo Drifter" on 4K yet - I would buy that title ASAP too.

And I am still waiting for Blu-ray releases of "Pistol Opera" and "Princess Racoon" - haven't seen those yet.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Lope de Aguirre

"Gate of Flesh", "Yumeji" and "Kagero-za" are the top titles I want on 4K of the Suzuki films I have already seen.
Weird that they didn't put out "Tokyo Drifter" on 4K yet - I would buy that title ASAP too.

And I am still waiting for Blu-ray releases of "Pistol Opera" and "Princess Racoon" - haven't seen those yet.

Tokyo Drifter should be coming. A new 4K restoration was completed by Nikkatsu last year, and was shown at Il Cinema Ritrovata 2024 a few months back.