One of the defining films of 1980s Japanese cinema, Sailor Suit and Machine Gun shows pop idol/actress Hiroko Yakushimaruand director Shinji Somai at the peak of their powers through the story of a schoolgirl who becomes the head of a yakuza group and takes on a sinister drug cartel. Somai uses the pulpy premise to design fascinatingly orchestrated and downright wacky long takes that explore the meaning of postmodern Japan's image culture. For Kadokawa Film it was one of the defining successes of their idol strategy, creating cypher-like media personas that were like nothing that came before. New 4k restoration! Followed by a reception.
POP! GOES CINEMA: KADOKAWA FILM & 1980S JAPAN
November 8—December 17, 2016 

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the publishing giant Kadokawa's entry into film production. Established by the larger-than-life, controversial businessman, producer and visionary Haruki Kadokawa, the game-changing film studio went on to redefine Japanese popular culture and media from the late 1970s through the 1980s with a series of highly marketed blockbusters, pop idol vehicles and off-the-walls genre films, each a unique blend of mainstream pop and experimental cinema unlike anything Japan had seen at the time. This mini-retrospective offers six celebrated and rarely-screened selections—almost all in brand-new 4k restorations! Guest curated by Alexander Zahlten, Associate Professor of East Asian Languages and Civilizations at Harvard University. 
Tickets: $13/$10 seniors & students/$9 Japan Society members
Special offer: Purchase at least 3 tickets in the same transaction and receive $2 off each ticket! 
http://www.japansociety.org/page/programs/film/pop-goes-cinema-kadokawa-film-series