The Legend of the Stardust Brothers
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Polish premiere
Audiodescription screeningsTheatrical Screenings
Kinoteka 2
Muranów
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Film description
Two musicians, Kan and Shingo, dream of a great career, yet everything divides them – from musical taste to temperament – and, on top of that, they genuinely despise each other. When they receive an offer they cannot refuse, their resentment is pushed aside, and a duo, born of pure calculation, begins to shine like stars from a dream factory. Thus are the Stardust Brothers born: J-pop glitter idols undeterred by the kitsch of their own songs, perfectly attuned to the tastes of an illusion-hungry Japanese audience of the 1980s.
The musical dream of a madman, created by Makoto Tezuka – a legend of Japanese experimental film – is a singular vision of show business in the era of the speculative bubble. The airy melodies of city pop, the fanciful sets, and the dazzling glamour of the stars involved in the project all capture the unique atmosphere of a decade when anything could be manufactured. “Stardust Brothers” is an eccentric satire of the sins of the entertainment industry and, at the same time, Japan’s answer to “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”. Although the film was a spectacular flop on its theatrical release, today “Stardust Brothers” has become a cult classic; restored and rediscovered, it stands as proof that the 1980s in Japan were an utterly unique time.
text:
Łukasz Mańkowski
Macoto Tezuka
A Japanese film and animation director, screenwriter, and visionary who has defied categorization since the beginning of his career. While still a student, he made his debut with the feature film Stardust Brothers, a cult musical that over the years has grown to become a manifesto of the underground spirit of the 1980s. Since then, Tezuka has been making both feature films and experimental films, often on 8mm tape, delighting in crossing the boundaries of genres and conventions. As the son of legendary creator Osamu Tezuka, he continues his father's legacy by working on projects inspired by his work, but he also consistently builds his own original cinematic language: bold, extravagant, and full of rebellious energy. He is one of the pioneers of the V-cinema genre. He is currently working on a new project.
1979 Fantastic☆Party (short)
1981 Moment
1985 Stardust Brothers / Hoshikuzu kyōdai no densetsu / The Legend of the Stardust Brothers /
1986 Yokai Tengoku / Ghost Paradise
1999 Hakuchi / The Innocent
2004 Shinkuronishiti / Black Kiss
2005 Black Jack
2009 Astro Boy
2016 The New Legend of the Stardust Brothers
2019 Tezuka's Barbara
