Kaigenrei

The third film of Yoshida’s trilogy about historical events in 20th-century Japan, COUP D’ÉTAT depicts the late years of the author, intellectual and political philosopher Kita Ikki – often described as “ideological father of Japanese fascism” – who was executed in 1937 as the alleged spiritual leader of two attempted coup d’états.
In the 1960s, Japan’s New Left was fascinated by the right-wing ideologue and his “Plan for the Reshaping of Japan” published in 1919, in which he also drew on Marxist ideas for his vision of a resurgent, nationalist empire. This plan was invoked by the young officers who rose up again in armed rebellion and staged a coup on February 26, 1936, frustrated by Japan’s disintegration under the influence of the West and the failed coup in May 1932.
In COUP D’ÉTAT, Yoshida embeds these historical events into the flow of Kita Ikki’s everyday life and artfully takes stock of the impossibility of a revolution loyal to the emperor. From the perspective of power, as Yoshida suggests, right wing and left wing, socialist revolution and the imperial system both pass through each other and run in parallel. After COUP D’ÉTAT, Yoshida entered a hiatus which lasted for thirteen years until his next feature film A PROMISE (NINGEN NO YAKUSOKU, 1986). (Roland Domenig)

All retrospective films that will be shown at the Filmmuseum after the Viennale - from 2.11. - can of course also be reserved as usual at filmmuseum.at or by calling 01/533 70 54 and purchased at the box office of the Austrian Film Museum. The prices of the Austrian Film Museum apply.

Yoshida Kijū: GOOD-FOR-NOTHING (1960), BLOOD IS DRY A.K.A BLOODY THIRST (1960), BITTER END OF A SWEET NIGHT (1961), AKITSU SPRING (1962), 18 WHO CAUSE A STORM A.K.A. 18 ROUGHS (1963), A STORY WRITTEN WITH WATER (1965), WOMAN OF THE LAKE (1966), IMPASSE (1967), THE AFFAIR (1967), AFFAIR IN THE SNOW (1968), FAREWELL TO THE SUMMER LIGHT (1968), EROS + MASSACRE (1969), HEROIC PURGATORY (1970), COUP D’ETAT (1973), A PROMISE (1986), WUTHERING HEIGHTS (1988), WOMEN IN THE MIRROR (2002), BEM-VINDO A SÃO PAULO (2004, Episode)