Audition [DVD] [2001]

Much of the controversy surrounding Takashi Miike's Audition centres on the disturbing nature of the later part of the film--understandable when you consider the imprint these admittedly horrific images leave on the viewer--but fails to note the intricate social satire of the rest. This is a film that offers insight into the changing culture of Japan and the generation gap between young and old. Shigeharu Aoyama is looking for an obedient and virtuous woman to love and asks, "Where are all the good girls?"--a comment that seals his fate. A fake audition is organised to find Aoyama a wife. Asami Yamazaki is introduced as the virtuous woman he is looking for, dressing for the majority of the film in white and behaving with the courtesy of an angel, especially when juxtaposed against the brash stupidity of the other girls at the audition. Although his friend takes an immediate "chemical" dislike to her, Aoyama begins a love affair to end all love affairs. But as Asami's history unfolds we see her pain and torture and slowly understand that the tortured in this instance holds the power to become the torturer. Aoyama is slowly drawn away from his white, metallic and homely environment into the vivid- red and dirty-dark environment of Asami's sadistic world.

Audition can be viewed on a number of levels, with important feminist, social and human rights issues to be drawn from the story. However, the real power of this film is its descent into the subconscious, to a point where reality is blurred and the audience is unable to decide whether the disturbing images on screen are real or surreal. This refined, hard-hitting and essentially Japanese style of horror is ultimately much more powerful than anything offered by Hollywood. This is a film that will get under your skin and infect your consciousness with a blend of fearless gore and unimaginable torture. It is not for the faint-hearted. --Nikki Disney

DVD Special Features:
Star and director filmographies
Scene selection
Chris Campion film notes
Mike Takashi interview
Original theatrical trailers
Extreme Asia trailer reel

Video aspect ratio: Anamorphic widescreen
Language: Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region code: 0

Shigeharu Aoyama owns a video production company. His wife died seven years ago. When his son, Shigehiko, suggest he should think about re-marrying before he gets too old, Aoyama decides to take his advice. He seeks help from his friend and colleague, Yoshikawa, whose idea is simple: they can use a casting session for a no-go project to audition for potential wives.

Aoyama spends secretive evenings looking through the selection of application forms and photographs, and finds himself inextricably drawn to the image of a 24-year-old ex-dance, Asami Yamasaki. On the day of the audition her mysterious charm and obedient nature make such an impact upon Aoyama that he arranges to see her again.

As the relationship between the two develops, Yoshikawa becomes increasingly uneasy about his friend's choice and, conducting his own investigaton into Asami's past, sets out to prove that she is not who she claims to be.

After spending many romantic evenings with Asami, Aoyama becomes increasingly convinced that she is the woman for him. However, his romantic ideals are about to be shattered in the most unimaginably cruel way, as the woman of his dreams takes him deep into her sadistic and vengeful world.