The Audition seemed to be another cheesy romantic film, Husband looses his wife, Son suggests he gets a new wife, he holds an audition for a new wife, finds one. She cuts of one of his feet and turns him in to a human pin cushion. Yes Takashi Miike strikes again with his ’99 hit film “The Audition”
Shigeharu (Ryo Ishibashi) after loosing his wife, Shigeharu seems to spend more and more of his time working at a television studio with his mate. This poor guy seems harmless, he’s Generally a good guy, kind father, good friend. He even looks after the family dog well. Although after the idea of auditioning woman to become a potential wife, he sprung to the idea.
Shigehiko (Tetsu Sawaki), Shigeharu’s vibrate son just seems to be a normal teenager, inviting girls round, he and his father seem to have an understanding, they both respect each other, by not making fun of his son in front of his new girlfriend, using one of the best chat up lines known to date “I thought she was pretty, so I went and spoke to her!”. which is usually seen in every Teen comedy nowadays. Shigehiko looking so young and frail comes to his days rescue as he meets Asami for the first time.
Asami (Eihi Shiina), on the outside she seems kind, gentle and quite. She seemed to be a keen ballet. Although after an injury to her hip when she was 18. She takes to Shigeharu like the cyclist to the bike. She seems to be very keen on Shigeharu which is good for him. Although after sleeping with her one night she disappeared! Shigeharu is desperate to find her and he tries his best until she finds him first!
Miike leads the last half hour of the audition into the twisted and disturbing past of Asami. Showing the mutilated human tied up in a sack. Beheading her ballet teacher. An Shigeharu receiving the ‘oral’ treatment from many different women!? Including Asami and Shigehiko’s girlfriend (don’t worry it doesn’t go into any erotic detail).
My thought of The Audition is varied. One this film is a complete opposite compared to his most recent work ‘Ichi The Killer’. More like Jackie Chan in ’93 where he filmed both City Hunter and Crime Story. Eihi Shiina played her role as if she has been waiting for it since the day she was born, the entire story was very convincing, although it would never make sense on a realistic term. But if your wanting a film with no extreme gore or strong violence Audition is a better choice, but believe me, it’s a must see of a film, Asian Cinema fan or not!
