THIRD WINDOW FILMS have released on Blu ray, 2019 BARBARA. Based on the popular anime by Osamu Tezuka’s, Barbara was an adult tale of sex and seduction that works as a fable. Taking its passage through the life of a young man, a famous novelist called Yosuke Mikura (Gorô Inagaki) with a mysterious girl Barbara ( Fumi Nikaidô). Mikura life is in ascent, as he makes ever more successful novels. Now his life is a mess. He cant escape the clutch of Barbara or her ever stranger world.
Osamu Tezuka suggested that the work was a reimagining of “The Tales of Hoffmann”. Osamu son Macoto Tezuka, who directs here, has translated the tale into a more complex vision of a modernist fairy tale. The story from afar seems simple enough but Macoto expands it boldly. Re examining his fathers ideas. Using a very obvious play on Grimm fairy tale. He uses strokes that are his own and broad with the influence of his love of the gothic. Christopher Doyle lensing here, defuses this effectively. Casting it into a dream, neigh a nightmare like fairy story reminiscent of THE COMPANY OF WOLVES. There are occult notes here but they betwixt us, as they have multiple meanings. So- we have the descent into hell but with layers of morality. Macoto steers it closer to his fathers work but gives it weight and, dare I say, a more current taste. Though still with a tinge of the abstractly sexual.
EXTRAS
Macoto Tezka interview is the best thing here. He is refreshing and passionate about his father, his work, his love of the project and even a little joke about the writer as drunk. Christopher Doyle interview is too short. He deserves more time and more engagement. The Deleted Scenes and Alternate Ending are short but do add an overhanging note. However compairing it to the original finale, it is clear which works best.
• Behind the Scenes (30 mins)
• Interview with director Macoto Tezka (30 mins)
• Interview with cinematographer Christopher Doyle (12 mins)
• Interview with actor Goro Inagaki (15 mins)
• Interview with actress Fumi Nikaido (7 mins)
• Deleted Scenes and Alternate Ending (6 mins)
• All Region DVD and Bluray
