Asian Pop-Up Cinema Season 12

Opening Night Film - The Town of Headcounts (Japan)

Expired March 20, 2021 4:59 AM
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"Set in a Town of nameless people, THE TOWN OF HEADCOUNTS (NINZU NO MACHI) is a clever dystopian drama and a brave, accurate analysis of modern societal dynamics." --Serena Seghedoni Loud And Clear Reviews

Pursued by loan sharks, our nameless protagonist is rescued by a mysterious man in orange overalls, and spirited away to "The Town," where other dropouts hide out from debtors, abusive partners, or the police. It’s a perpetual holiday resort where every comfort (even sex) is catered to, but the arrival of a woman looking for her missing sister uncovers a sinister conspiracy.





Director Shinji Araki



Ambitious and compelling, this is one of the most politically astute Japanese films in years. The allegory of Japanese society is spot-on. From rules of enforced etiquette to transactional sex, this is a system that keeps its people docile and dependent on instant gratification. Channeling sci-fi dystopian classics like LOGAN’S RUN, 1984, and THE TRUMAN SHOW, the film is a potent mirror of our global malaise: internet bullying and surveillance, election interference, and terrorism. Shinji Araki, who previously worked with comic genius Matsumoto Hitoshi (BIG MAN JAPAN, SYMBOL), has directed a visionary, chilling yet beguiling thriller, with electrifying tension throughout. (Vancouver International Film Festival)

  • Year
    2020
  • Runtime
    111 minutes
  • Country
    Japan
  • Premiere
    U.S. Premiere
  • Note
    Drama, Mystery, Japanese with English subtitles
  • Director
    Shinji Araki
  • Screenwriter
    Shinji Araki
  • Cast
    Tomoya Nakamura, Shizuka Ishibashi, Eri Tachibana, Junpei Hashino, Koji Uemura, Rio Kanno, Yûya Matsuura, Ini Kusano, Saya Kawamura, Elisa Yanagi, Sō Yamanaka