• Latest
  • Trending
Japan Cuts Review: Takeshi Kogahara’s BIRDLAND Shows What It Means To Be Alive

Japan Cuts Review: Takeshi Kogahara’s BIRDLAND Shows What It Means To Be Alive

July 20, 2020
HUNTED Review: When The Prey Becomes Predator

HUNTED Review: When The Prey Becomes Predator

January 18, 2021
Amazon’s LORD OF THE RINGS-Based Series Takes Another Step Forward

Amazon’s LORD OF THE RINGS-Based Series Takes Another Step Forward

January 18, 2021
Warrior – Season 1: Episode 5 “The Blood and the Shit” Finding One’s Purpose within

Warrior – Season 1: Episode 5 “The Blood and the Shit” Finding One’s Purpose within

January 18, 2021
AN AUTUMN´S TALE Review: A look back when Chow Yun Fat fell in love with Cherie Chung on the streets of New York

AN AUTUMN´S TALE Review: A look back when Chow Yun Fat fell in love with Cherie Chung on the streets of New York

January 16, 2021

WILLY’S WONDERLAND: Get Caged In Horror With Cage In The Official Trailer

January 15, 2021

A WRITER’S ODYSSEY: CMC Ramps Up Lu Yang’s Formerly-Titled ‘Assassin In Red’ For A CNY US Release In February!

January 15, 2021
MORTAL KOMBAT: Prepare Yourself With These New Stills From The Upcoming Reboot Starring Lewis Tan

MORTAL KOMBAT: Prepare Yourself With These New Stills From The Upcoming Reboot Starring Lewis Tan

January 15, 2021
CHERRY Trailer: Tom Holland Is A Fourth Wall-Breaking Bank Robber With A Story To Tell

CHERRY Trailer: Tom Holland Is A Fourth Wall-Breaking Bank Robber With A Story To Tell

January 14, 2021
EXILED: THE CHOSEN ONES Spawns New Poster Art

EXILED: THE CHOSEN ONES Spawns New Poster Art

January 14, 2021
THE KILLING OF KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN Launches Sales At Voltage

THE KILLING OF KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN Launches Sales At Voltage

January 14, 2021

PAYBACK Gets An Official Trailer For Joseph Mensch’s Directorial Crime Drama Debut

January 14, 2021

Warrior – Season 1: Episode 4 “The White Mountain” The Grass is Never Greener

January 14, 2021
Film Combat Syndicate
  • Login
  • Film Combat Syndicate
  • Forums
  • About Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Film Combat Syndicate
  • Forums
  • About Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Film Combat Syndicate
No Result
View All Result
Home Reviews

Japan Cuts Review: Takeshi Kogahara’s BIRDLAND Shows What It Means To Be Alive

Lee B. Golden IIIbyLee B. Golden III
July 20, 2020
inReviews, Shortfilms
5
0
112
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Takeshi Kogahara’s twenty-minute shortfilm, Birdland, takes an almost chilling look into the life of an elderly man named Koji (Shin Furukawa), who lives by himself, save for his caretaker, Ishida (Tomoko Ikunishi), who tends to his needs.

Koji can’t help himself much. His gait is low hanging, his hands frequently jitter and he has trouble sleeping, he wears a diaper, and he also wants to die. One evening, Ishida arrives in time to see him half-awake after a cup of wine. She changes and washes him, and then sets out to dump the trash.

RelatedPosts

HUNTED Review: When The Prey Becomes Predator

Warrior – Season 1: Episode 5 “The Blood and the Shit” Finding One’s Purpose within

AN AUTUMN´S TALE Review: A look back when Chow Yun Fat fell in love with Cherie Chung on the streets of New York

The following moment Koji is by himself is when Birdland transitions from his room, decorated with pictures of nature and birds stapled to his drawers and walls, to memories of walking in a park in the company of his wife, Saki (Natsuko Fuji) who is also wheelchair bound.

Birdland is the latest shortfilm work of its director who, according to the Japan Cuts programming, is also caring for his bedridden grandmother, who also can’t seem to communicate. Pensively crafted and brilliantly colored, Ryo Ishida’s cinematography offers a frightening window into the world of an elderly person in need of care, with an intimate perspective into Koji’s life and love for Saki.

The park sequences are beautifully shot, as are the gripping moments when a slightly younger Koji is with Shin, holding her up as they gaze in the direction of a river flowing. At one point, she slowly gazes at him, takes his hand and uses her finger to write something on his palm. By then, it feels like one of the most heartbreaking scenes of the short as the film nears its end.

Part of Birdland‘s programming elucidates how “…Beyond age and even death, the connection between the two is vivid and all-consuming.” Kogahara is quite apt at accomplishing this, doing so through confronting the all familiar and scary notion of death, and showcasing its beauty beyond the pain and suffering. It’s call carried with brilliant and compelling cast performance, and a heartfelt message that is sure to leave you in a certain state of thought.

Like this Article? Subscribe to Our Feed!

Lee B. Golden III
filmcombatsyndicate@gmail.com | Website

Native New Yorker. Lover of all things pizza, chocolate, pets, and good friends. Karaoke hero. Left of center. Survivor. Fond supporter of cult, obscure and independent cinema - especially fond of Asian movies and global action cinema. Author of the bi-weekly Hit List. Founder and editor of Film Combat Syndicate. Still, very much, only human.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • WhatsApp
  • Twitter
  • Print
  • Reddit
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest
  • Pocket
  • Telegram
  • Skype
Tags: birdlandfilmcombatsyndicate.comjapan cuts 2020takeshi kogahara
Share2Tweet2ShareShareSend
Please login to join discussion
No Result
View All Result

Categories

  • Acquisitions and Release
  • Animation
  • books
  • Campaigns
  • Casting
  • Contests
  • Editorials
  • Exclusives
  • Festivals And Events
  • First Looks
  • Guest Articles
  • Home Releases
  • In Production
  • In-Development
  • Interviews
  • Markets
  • News
  • Now Streaming
  • OPINIONS
  • Posters
  • Reviews
  • Short Reviews
  • Shortfilms
  • Stills
  • Stream This
  • Teasers
  • Television
  • THE HIT LIST
  • Trailers
  • Watch Now
  • Webseries

Recent Posts

  • HUNTED Review: When The Prey Becomes Predator
  • Amazon’s LORD OF THE RINGS-Based Series Takes Another Step Forward
  • Warrior – Season 1: Episode 5 “The Blood and the Shit” Finding One’s Purpose within
  • AN AUTUMN´S TALE Review: A look back when Chow Yun Fat fell in love with Cherie Chung on the streets of New York
  • WILLY’S WONDERLAND: Get Caged In Horror With Cage In The Official Trailer

Recent Comments

  • LOST PHOENIX Teaser Introduces A Look At James Couche's Indie Action Feature Debut | Film Combat Syndicate on LOST PHOENIX: Exclusive New Stills For James Couche’s New Independent Proof Of Concept Thriller Ahead Of Full Feature By 2021
  • EVERYTHING 'MANDALORIAN': Part Two - A Look Back On Season Two, And The Future Of The Series | Film Combat Syndicate on EVERYTHING ‘MANDALORIAN’: Part I – A Look Back On Season One
  • Now On Netflix: Shinsuke Sato's ALICE IN BORDERLAND Delivers Exhilirating Action Sci-Fi With Chilling Effect | Film Combat Syndicate on Fantasia Review: Shinsuke Sato’s KINGDOM Is A Soaring, Sweeping Epic That Dares You To Dream
  • 2020 TBR READING CHALLENGE: A Year's Footnotes From A Book Dragon | Film Combat Syndicate on Your Next Read: THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW
  • Live-Action BLEACH Director On Sequel Hopes: "I Am Looking Forward To It." | Film Combat Syndicate on Sato Shinsuke’s BLEACH Is Highly-Spirited Otaku Soul Food

Archives

Latest News on PopGeeks.net:

Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram
Hosted By:

© 2019 Film Combat Syndicate.

No Result
View All Result
  • Film Combat Syndicate
  • Forums
  • About Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact Us

© 2019 Film Combat Syndicate.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

*By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.