Bad Boys (不良少年, Furyō shōnen) is a 1961 Japanese pseudo-documentary drama film about juvenile delinquents, written and directed by Susumu Hani. It is based on the novel of the same name by Aiko Jinushi.
| Bad Boys | |
|---|---|
 Japanese poster | |
| Directed by | Susumu Hani |
| Written by | Susumu Hani |
| Based on | Bad Boys by Aiko Jinushi |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Mitsuji Kanau |
| Music by | Toru Takemitsu |
Production company | Iwanami Productions |
Release date |
|
Running time | 89 minutes[1] |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
| Budget | $16,000[2] |
Plot edit
After his arrest for theft in a jewelry store, juvenile delinquent Asai is sent to a reform school. He is first assigned to the laundry group, where he is bullied by the group's reckless leaders, before he is allocated to a group of youths manufacturing furniture and experiences solidarity and team spirit. He befriends Debari, who was sentenced for repeated mugging with his gang and urges Asai to wise up and not end like him. Asai is eventually released, facing an uncertain future.
Production and reception edit
Since Hani had a background in documentaries, he shot Bad Boys, his first feature-length fiction film, in a documentary style, using "nonprofessional actors, black and white, hand-held cinematography, and location shooting."[3] It has been considered one of the films to launch the Japanese New Wave.[4]
A facility was used as the filming location.[5]
Awards edit
Bad Boys was voted the best film of 1961 in the poll of film critics by Kinema Junpo.[6] Hani was awarded the Directors Guild of Japan New Directors Award,[7] and Toru Takemitsu received the Mainichi Film Award for Best Film Score for his work on Bad Boys and Mozu.[8]
References edit
- ^ a b "不良少年 (Bad Boys)". Kinenote (in Japanese). Retrieved 29 June 2021.
- ^ "Susumu Hani's Low Budget Saga". Variety. 15 October 1969. p. 22.
- ^ Desser, David (1988). Eros Plus Massacre. Indiana University Press. p. 62. ISBN 0-253-31961-7.
- ^ "Bad Boys". Museum of Modern Art. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
- ^ Thomas, Kevin (29 October 1998). "Japan's New Wave Pioneer". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
- ^ "1961年度キネマ旬報ベストテン (1961 Kinema Junpo Best Ten)". Cinema 1987 (in Japanese). Retrieved 27 January 2013.
- ^ "New Directors Award". Directors Guild of Japan. Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
- ^ "Konkūru no rekishi: 1961". Mainichi Eiga Konkūru (in Japanese). Mainichi Shinbun. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
External links edit
- Bad Boys at IMDb
- Bad Boys at the Japanese Movie Database (in Japanese)
- "不良少年 (Bad Boys)". Japanese Cinema Database (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 20 February 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
- "不良少年 (Bad Boys)". National Film Center (in Japanese). Retrieved 29 June 2021.
