Queer Japan Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Queer Japan Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 4, 2021

Director Graham Kolbeins finds an interesting subject matter for his documentary, “Queer Japan.” He travels to the country to explore its burgeoning LGBTQ+ culture, getting past the image of a reserved, conservative Japan to detail the inner workings of what many hope is something of a revolution, offering an equal presence for all. Kolbeins captures the lives of those who crave the same ideal, exploring artists, politicians, and activists as they attempt to be seen in their own special ways. “Queer Japan” offers numerous interviews with a wide range of people, offering a heartfelt understanding of need and representation, with Kolbeins working to identify what makes these individuals and gatherings so special, offering exposure to subcultures previously concealed.

“Queer Japan” doesn’t remain with a single personality for very long, moving rapidly around interviewees, with the production working hard to fit every aspect of LGBTQ+ life into the documentary. This approach results in overlength, but Kolbeins is passionate about the subject, traveling around Japan to interview those who’ve struggled with sexual and gender issues. These are stories of identity but also creativity, finding its most inspired participant in artist Gengoroh Tagame, who’s a master of erotic imagery, laboring to bring detailed examinations of surrealism and sensuality to his fanbase, which has steadily developed over the last two decades. “Queer Japan” spends time with performance, visiting fetish and gay clubs to capture personal expression, and it studies more intimate tales of oppression and frustration, including Aya Kamikawa, a transgender politician working to combat rising bigotry from conservative parties. There’s humor to the documentary, but the helmer maintains a serious exploration of need, winding through various facets of life in Japan, which is populated with colorful citizens working to express themselves without fear of condemnation.

Queer Japan Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Queer Japan" deals with the feature that was captured with commercial grade cameras, creating a clean look for the movie. Technical limitations are inherent to the source. Some mild artifacting is found at times. Clarity is satisfactory, capturing a wide range of facial surfaces and hairstyles, while makeup designs are sharply defined. Clothing is crisp, finding the wild outfits contributing all sorts of textures, with vinyl and rubbery creations most compelling. Colors are lively, with rainbow imagery potent, while deeper hues for club lighting register as intended. Greenery is exact. Skintones are natural. Delineation is acceptable.

Queer Japan Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix manages interview audio acceptably, though the production often struggles with background noise and equipment limitations. Conversations are intelligible and emotional at times, capturing vocal nuance. Soundtrack selections are amplified, adding some heavier beats for electropop offerings.

Queer Japan Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "The House of Gay Art" (4:37, HD) is a short film directed by Graham Kolbeins, following artist Gengoroh Tagme and writer Anne Ishii as they pay a visit to a specialized museum in suburban Japan, meeting curator Masahiro Ogizaki.

• Bonus Scenes (HD) include "Queer Parenting in Kobe," "Shinjuku Ni-Chome Tour with Vivienne Sato," and "Tomato at Heaven's Door." The latter is especially interesting, with the subject detailing her love of Queen, responding to the rock god-ery of Freddie Mercury during the band's late-'70s popularity.

• And a Trailer (2:24, HD) is included.

Queer Japan Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The documentary also surveys the work of activists, highlighting those trying to prevent the spread of HIV, looking to provide health education in a country where feelings of shame are a real challenge. "Queer Japan" also visits a gay pride parade where acceptance is the overall theme, but a few interviewees share their personal fears that nothing is changing, while corporate interests are growing, co-opting the message to make money. There are provocative ideas floating around the feature, mixed with vibrant personalities and displays of artistic gifts. "Queer Japan" is looking to expose lives often lived in the shadows, and it does so with feeling, giving the subjects time to share their histories, with Kolbeins capturing distinctly human experiences from refreshing perspectives.