THE PAVILLION SALAMANDRE

Who is Masanori Tominaga? And why do we care about his new movie? He previously directed the KAMEMUSHI short film series which earned him the title of one of Japan's hottest up and coming directors, and now he's busting loose with his first feature THE PAVILLION SALAMANDRE.

Starring Jo Odagiri as an X-ray technician sent to verify that the giant salamander, Kinjiro, a Japanese national treasure exhibited at the 1867 Paris World Expo is actually what it is claimed to be, it looks like good stuff. The salamander has been entrusted to the care of four sisters who have made out like bandits in government grants ostensibly slated for the care and feeding of Kinjiro but now it looks like their long-lived salamander might be a fake.

If all of that has you intrigued, then check out the trailer. I have to admit that I'm more than a little interested in this very weird movie starring a very fake giant lizard. And check out who else is starring in it over on Ryugangi.