Okay guys, we’ve got this movie called “TOKYO!” and we think you’re going to like it. It’s an “omnibus triptych” according to the press release. “An omnibus and a triptych?” you ask? Yes, both. Now, you being the inquisitive reader you are, you’d like to know what exactly makes this film a triptych, and it’s a good question, we’re glad you asked. You see, it’s actually more like three smaller films instead of just one big one, and each little film has its own director. So now you’re curious about the directors, which is natural, perfectly normal (not that we’re calling you average, far from it. You’re an exceptional, a wonderful specimen—inside and out.). Well that’s one of the neat things about this movie, the directors are all great. We’ll let you know about them (and more) in the next three paragraphs, which are after the jump.

The first piece is by Michel Gondry, who directed “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”, “The Science of Sleep”, “Be Kind Rewind” and some of the most visually creative music videos we’ve ever seen, also, he has an Oscar and can solve a Rubik’s Cube with his nose. Gondry’s segment is titled “Interior Design” and it tells the story of a young couple who’ve recently moved to Tokyo and are trying to establish their place in the city. The plot takes a decidedly surreal turn that the press release calls “Kafkaesque”, which is a term we prefer not to use due to reasons we don’t feel like discussing right now (not your fault, ours). We’ll just call it “something we know you’ll like” and leave it at that for now.

The second work is by a man named Leos Carax. He directed “Boys and Girls”, “Pola X” and several short films. It’s called “Merde” which means “shit” in French, but you knew that. You’re as smart as they come. But anyway, “Merde” follows a creature (not a turtle) that rises from the sewers and attacks Tokyoites in increasingly destructive ways until he is caught and put on trial. The piece investigates the bizarre state of mass-media through, well, bizarre (and fucked up) techniques.

The final featurette is the work of Bong Joon-Ho, director of “The Host” and “Flanders’ Dog”. Joon-Ho presents us with “Shaking Tokyo”, which tells the story of a “hikikomori” which is a Japanese term applied to young shut-ins, but of course you already knew that. You’re a polyglot, aren’t you? Will you teach me Esperanto? I’m sorry for embarrassing you. I’ll just get back to the movie now: this fellow hasn’t left his apartment in over ten years and falls in love with a briefly unconscious delivery girl. Over time, it becomes apparent to him that he has to find her. The question is—how does it end?

The film opens March 6^th at the Sunshine Theater, located at 143 East Houston St. Michel Gondry  and  Leos Carax will follow selected showings with a question and answer section. It’d be a lot more fun if you came.

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Matthew Mann for NY-T