Crazy Dolls (1984)

Overview

Conceived as an epic cyberpunk film bringing together the underground stars of Nagoya’s punk scene, small-theatre groups, and butoh dancers, Crazy Dolls is an unfinished Japanese underground film directed by Hirohisa Kawaragi. The original premise involved punks being lobotomised by the government, but director Kawaragi kept expanding the story to include other groups of people. Production began in November 1982, bringing together local theatre actors, members of punk bands including The Star Club, OXYDOLL, Sodom, and Continental Kids, alongside performers from the butoh dance group Byakko-sha. Filming took place at E.L.L., Nanatsudera Cooperative Studio, and the Nagoya docklands. Although conceived as an epic production, the expanded version was not ready for its planned premiere, and a shorter trailer version was screened instead. Planned filming in Africa never took place. Starring Machiko Watanabe and Takuya Nakamura. What is this power, condensed into just 13 minutes!