Labyrinth of Dreams

Running time: N/A

Noted as one of Japan's career is a testimony to true spirit of the maverick cinema of today. Filmed in beautiful black and white, Ishii latest film, Labyrinth of Dreams, is an extremely stylish mystery about young Tomiko and her search for a killer. Tomiko works as a conductor with the bus company, a mundane job with the usual blandness. It is her sense of adventure that leads Tomiko into her role as the new conductor for handsome driver Niitaka (played by Japanese heartthrob Tadanobu Asano). But unlike the other girls who would give anything to work with Niitaka, Tomiko looks at her new co-worker with contempt, as her best friend was mysteriously killed working with Niitaka. To top it off, she's also begun to hear rumors of a serial killer bus driver who woos conductors and kills them. Suspicions run wild, but Tomika's irresistibly drawn to Niitaka and is falling in love with a possible killer. We are drawn immediately into Tomika's nightmarish world through Ishii's masterful direction and ability to create remarkable characters. Norimichi Kasamatsu's brilliant black and white cinematography also lends itself beautifully to creating indelible images. This is a must-see for film aficionados! --Mike Rabehl