Seijun Suzuki’s “Story of Sorrow and Sadness” coming to DVD

by Chris MaGee

“Story of Sorrow and Sadness” isn’t a film many people have actually seen. Coming in the middle of what could best be described as director Seijun Suzuki’s “wilderness years” between his firing from Nikkatsu in 1968 for delivering the avant-garde “Branded to Kill” and his return to critical success in 1980 with “Zigeunerweisen”. During that 12 year period Suzuki made ends meet by doing pick up work in television, but he did manage to sneak out “Story of Sorrow and Sadness” in 1977, which then promptly flopped at the box office. I guess the Japanese public wasn’t ready for the story of a professional model and golf star (Yoko Shiraki) who must contend with a celebrity stalker (Masumi Okada).

Besides a poor quality Hong Kong DVD “Story of Sorrow and Sadness” has been out of circulation since its release, but now according to a report at Twitch Cinema Epoch will be bringing out a Region 1 DVD! No news as to a release date as of yet, but apparently the North American distribution rights were picked up by Cinema Epoch at this year’s Cannes International Film Festival along with titles by Koreji Kurahara, Kinji Fukasaku and Masato Harada.

While I myself have never clapped eyes on “Story of Sorrow and Sadness” it’ll be very interesting to see it and to see if the film will be reappraised with this DVD release.