Red Spectacles
Press Play to start
Polish premiereTheatrical Screenings
Kinoteka 1
Kinoteka 1
Online Availability
Additional Materials
Film description
Summer 1995. Three members of the elite special unit Kerberos go underground after the organisation’s collapse. Years later, one of them, Koichi, returns to Tokyo, only to find that the city no longer resembles the place he once knew. The metropolis reveals unexpected scenes: ramen bars filled with eccentrics, deserted cinemas, and claustrophobic corners where every conversation sounds like a conspiratorial whisper.
“The Red Spectacles” is a forgotten work by Mamoru Oshii, a dystopian vision of the future that blends science fiction, New Wave aesthetics, and theatrical grotesque elements. The protagonist descends ever deeper into a world governed by absurd rules, perverse games, and constant surveillance, taking part in a spectacle straight out of a surreal nightmare. The stylised acting, circus-like tone and caricatured portrayal of Tokyo’s urban landscape create a distinctive atmosphere - the film teeters between comic book fantasy and tragicomedy, laced with Shakespearean quotations. “The Red Spectacles” marks the direction of Oshii’s later works and remains one of the most singular dystopian portrayals of Tokyo in cinema history.
The film is presented in Japan 80s and Asian Sci-Fi sections.
text:
Łukasz Mańkowski
Mamoru Oshii
One of the most important visionaries of Japanese cinema and an undisputed master of film dystopia, Mamoru Oshii is a creator who revolutionized the way we think about science fiction. His "Ghost in the Shell" (1995) became a touchstone for contemporary pop culture, inspiring the creators of "The Matrix" and defining the cyberpunk imagination at the end of the 20th century.
Oshii’s films balance on the border between philosophical essay, metaphysical thriller, and visual poem — they explore questions of identity, consciousness, and the limits of humanity in the age of machines. He began with lighthearted manga adaptations such as "Urusei Yatsura," but soon abandoned the comedic form, turning instead toward reflective, unsettling worlds where spirituality and technology are in constant tension. The mystical "Angel’s Egg" remains one of the most enigmatic works of animation, while "Patlabor" and its sequel depict a futuristic Japan as a battlefield between order and chaos.
Oshii even has a Polish connection — his cyberpunk film "Avalon" (2001) was shot in Poland, starring Małgorzata Foremniak in the leading role. The film "The Red Spectacles," screened at Five Flavours, is one of his most significant works, restored thanks to crowdfunding efforts.
1983 Urusei Yatsura: Only You
1984 Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer
1985 Tenshi no Tamago / Angel’s Egg
1987 Akai Megane / Czerwone okulary / Red Spectacles
1989 Patlabor: The Movie
1990 MAROKO
1992 Talking Head
1993 Patlabor 2: The Movie
1995 Kōkaku Kidōtai / Ghost in the Shell
2001 Avalon
2004 Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence
