Carlotta Films will co-produce Twist & Shoot Mr. Suzuki, an ambitious new documentary about cult Japanese author Seijun Suzuki, directed by Yves Montmayeur (Sangre del Toro).
The leading French classic film distributor announced the project at Lyon’s Lumière Film Festival, where director Suzuki was honored with a retrospective of five films, including the world premiere of the restored version of Carmen Kawachi, which will be shown for the first time outside Japan.
Co-produced by Brilliant Pictures, Viall Productions and Carlotta Films, in partnership with Nikkatsu Corporation, which holds the worldwide rights to nearly all of Suzuki’s films, the documentary explores the life and achievements of the filmmaker who redefined postwar Japanese cinema with cult classics such as Tokyo Drifter and Branded to Kill.
Working within Japan’s strict studio system in the 1960s, Suzuki broke every rule in the book and created a wild gangster film packed with pop-art colors, absurdist humor, and extreme editing. Though often dismissed at the time, his films went on to influence generations of filmmakers, from Jim Jarmusch, Quentin Tarantino, and Wong Kar-wai to Baz Luhrmann, Damien Chazelle, John Woo, and Yorgos Lanthimos.
This documentary traces Suzuki’s singular vision through rare archival materials and interviews with Suzuki himself, regular protagonist Jyo Shishido, longtime production designer Takeo Kimura, and contemporary directors influenced by his work.
Montmayeur, a Japanese film expert (“Citizen Kitano”, “Tokyo Paranormal”) who is currently in Lyon to screen Guillermo del Toro’s documentary “Sangre del Toro,” said the film will break the mold of traditional documentaries and reflect Suzuki’s “free jazz style.”
branded to kill
Although the documentary focuses on film, it explores how Suzuki’s visual signatures have spilled over into other art forms, from manga, whose bold framing and frenetic rhythms owe much to Suzuki’s pop sensibilities, to playful contemporary visual art that defies convention.
Carlotta’s collaboration with Nikkatsu is not limited to movies. The French distributor is spearheading a major campaign to reintroduce Suzuki’s work to global audiences, starting with the screening of Lumière and continuing with 11 theatrical and home entertainment releases over the next year.
The project reflects Carlotta’s broader philosophy, founder Vincent-Paul Boncourt told Variety. “Carlotta Films has always sought to go beyond ‘simple’ film releases and retrospectives. Following documentaries on Kinuyo Tanaka, Yoshida Yoshida, and Bollywood cinema, this collaboration with Yves Montmayeur provides audiences with a deeper understanding of Suzuki’s work and helps expand its reach across platforms and media.”
Alongside the Suzuki project, Carlotta will appear at the Lumière Festival’s 13th International Film Classic Marche (MIFC) with a series of high-profile acquisitions. A French distributor has acquired Erich von Stroheim’s legendary unfinished silent masterpiece Queen Kelly (1929) in a newly reconstructed and previously unreleased 4K restored version. The film was acquired from Kino Lorber on behalf of Milestone Films and will be screened in Lyon this week as part of the festival’s “Sublime Moments” section.
Carlotta is also expanding its Hungarian lineup with 14 restored titles from director Miklós Jánso, acquired from the National Film Institute Film Archive in Budapest. This includes cult works “Roundup” (1966) and “The Red Psalm” (1972), as well as rare gems such as “Electra, My Love” (1974) and “Hungarian Rhapsody” (1979). Hungary is the guest of honor at this year’s MIFC.
The Lumière Film Festival will be held in and around Lyon until October 19th, with MIFC closing on October 17th.
