AFI Dallas International Film Festival - ‘Big Man Japan’

(Japan, 2007, 113 mins)
In Japanese with English subtitles

Directed By: Hitoshi Matsumoto

Daisato lives a mundane life in a rundown house. This middle-aged slacker seems a puzzling subject to be followed by the documentary crew that films his banal daily routine. That is, until he prepares for his “job.”

As bolts of electricity rip through the sky, Daisato is transformed into a stocky giant several stories high, sporting tight purple briefs, tattoos and an Eraserhead-style hairdo. The sixth-generation superhero defends Japan from ridiculous villains that include the freak with the comb-over hairdo who pulls down skyscrapers with elastic arms or the revolting beast that lets rip stink clouds. Daisato’s battles are broadcast late at night to diminishing ratings. He has become the scapegoat of New Japan, whose citizens bitterly complain about the noise and property destruction he causes.

Director and star Hitoshi Matsumoto – one of Japan’s biggest comedians, on the same level as Takeshi Kitano – pulls off a whacked-out and imaginative filmmaking debut, yet still hits upon social issues.

Information from the AFI's website