Facets/Tidepoint Pictures

The arrival of Late Bloomer in the mail was cause for celebration. As somebody who constantly seeks out unusual stories I found this movie not just interesting but intensely challenging. Late Bloomer tells the story of Sumida-san a man whose severe disability doesn’t keep him from pursuing a rock n roll lifestyle. Beer, porn, taking in his friends Punk shows all mitigate a wheelchair bound existence until he finds himself driven mad with jealousy when his beautiful new caretaker starts spending more time with his best friend. Embarking on a new life of undirected revenge he discovers how easy it is to use his disability to his advantage when he becomes a serial killer. The hand held camera style will turn off some and no doubt the nature of Shimida-sans disability will make some uncomfortable regardless of how good or bad they feel the film is. But the plain truth is this movie is liable to deeply challenge your sense of what the true nature of good and evil are and the ease with which we label and patronize our fellow human beings. It also holds up a mirror to the comfort based lifestyle that so many feel called to emulate where getting drunk on the weekend and indulging every sexual and emotional whim replaces spiritual journey. Shimida-san aspires to a lifestyle he thinks will make him happy but all it does is put him at the mercy of his own emptiness.

This is a film that has been neglected primarily because of its subject matter and its style. Masakiyo Shimidas mad performance is a wonder to behold not just because he can act but because he reminds us that appearances really tell us nothing about a person and "movies" often come dangerously close to being our image of real life. This film deconstructs both ideas. A greeting from director Go Shibata and interviews with him and his cast are the primary special features here.