News Sion Sono Suffers (doesn't die from) Heart Attack

[sitenoise]

Japanese director Sion Sono suffered a heart attack Thursday and has since undergone an operation. Sono’s representatives have told Japanese media that his life is not in danger.

His illness may delay production of Nicolas Cage-starring horror-action film “Prisoners of the Ghostland,” which was scheduled to begin shooting this spring.

Cage is to star as a criminal out to rescue a kidnapped girl who has fallen into a dark alternative universe. Imogen Poots has also boarded the film, which is Sono’s first in English.

“Our understanding is that he is in very good condition, and there’s no impact on ‘Ghostland’ or timeline,” producer Nate Bolotin of XYZ Films told Variety in an email.

Pushing boundaries of sex and violence while mixing in classical music, Christian imagery and black humor, Sono became an international cult favorite in the early years of the millennium. Among his best-known films abroad are “Suicide Club,” “Love Exposure” and “Cold Fish.”

According to local media sources, Sono complained of chest pains at his Tokyo home around 4 p.m. on Thursday and was rushed to a nearby hospital.

https://variety.com/2019/film/asia/japan-film-director-sion-sono-heart-attack-1203132333/

 

[plsletitrain]

Dammit sitenoise you will give the readers the heart attack by making that headline! Hehe. I thought he died! You should make it clear "Sion Sono suffers heart attack--no worries, he's alive". lol

 

[divemaster13]

I forgot to ask last time...now that I've just seen Love Exposure (and Cold Fish a while back), which of his movies should I watch next? If you recall my review posted on Jan 19, I gave Love Exposure some pretty good raves at 4 stars.

 

[sitenoise]

I forgot to ask last time...now that I've just seen Love Exposure (and Cold Fish a while back), which of his movies should I watch next? If you recall my review posted on Jan 19, I gave Love Exposure some pretty good raves at 4 stars.

I think you should diverge into the most 'normal'-ish film he's ever made: Be Sure to Share and see if it works for you. "There's no blood and no running around with a handheld camera". Sono working out his daddy issues.

Alternatively: Why Don’t You Play in Hell? House loads of blood, Fumi Nikaido. The thing about this film is it's so over the top it's like Sono was shy about how much he loves film, and making films. But that's what it's about. Springtime in a fucked up small town, so to speak. It really is touching but that part might not hit you full force. I can't believe I didn't keep notes on this one. May have to watch it again. Anyone who names their troupe "The Fuck Bombers" is okay in my book.

Alt-Alternatively: Antiporno for the nudity and ... sort of ... messaging, if you will. "A high school girl goes to an audition for a porno movie and says 'Here's my naked body, make it porno'. That's everything right there. He gets women to run around naked and give speeches about how deplorable it is to ask women to run around naked."

Tag is a film that pre-explores Antiporno. 5/5 from me, but it's really a 4/5 plus a soundtrack to die for. It's smart and cute, all female. And kind of falls completely apart in the end when the men and the overt messaging enter.

Personally, I think Noriko's Dinner Table is every bit the masterpiece Love Exposure is, but it's from before Sono had a budget to work with and way more low key and dark. It also helps if you are kind of into the Suicide Club mythology. Watch a couple other ones and if you are still into exploring further, maybe dip in.

It's not like I would suggest grading Sono on a curve but when you realize he's a guy who whips out films in the time it takes most people to come up with an idea for one (like Hiroki Ryuichi does as well) the impressive factor rises for fans. Not everyone will experience that.

 

[sitenoise]

Dammit sitenoise you will give the readers the heart attack by making that headline! Hehe. I thought he died! You should make it clear "Sion Sono suffers heart attack--no worries, he's alive". lol

I paused for a moment and thought about that, but then thought ... if he died of a heart attack the headline would be "Sono dies of a heart attack". Maybe I'll change it. I don't want @Daniel Larusso to suffer a heart attack