Ramen, Rituals, and Racketeers – This films of Jūzō Itami

Celebrated as one of Japan’s most daring and unique cinematic voices, Jūzō Itami (1933–1997) was a highly influential Japanese filmmaker, actor, and essayist known for his sharp, satirical comedies that dissected modern Japanese society. Here, we visit four of his films and ask if his satire pushed too far?

When Wabisuke’s father-in-law unexpectedly dies, the family goes through a series of events and occurrences as the funeral unfolds over three days in their home. A hilarious, sharp-witted look at how modern life complicates the absurdly rigid and costly rituals of death.