is a 1998 Japanese drama film directed by

Teruo Ishii was a Japanese film director best known in the West for his early films in the ''Super Giant'' series, and for his films in the ''ero guro'' ("erotic-grotesque") subgenre of sexploitation such as '' Shogun's Joy of Torture'' (1968). He also dire ...

. It is an adaptation of Tsuge Yoshiharu's 1967 manga ''

Screw Style is a one-shot manga written and illustrated by essayist and manga artist Yoshiharu Tsuge. ''Screw Style'' follows of the story of an unnamed boy who goes around several places in war-torn Japan in order to find a doctor who can fix his pierc ...

''.

Production

The film is Ishii's eighty-first film. It stars

Tadanobu Asano better known by his stage name is a Japanese actor, director, and musician, who has had an extensive career working in both Japanese and international cinema. He has been nominated for five Japan Academy Film Prizes, twice for Best Actor and ...

and

Miki Fujitani is a Japanese actress and former Idol Singer. In addition to her many live-action film and television roles, she had a prominent voice role as Kamiya Kaoru in the ''Rurouni Kenshin'' anime series, and as Chun-Li in '' Street Fighter II The M ...

. When asked "What is it about Tsuge's manga that makes you want to adapt them to film?", Ishii answered: "He shows the very poor side of society in Japan, that's what interests me."

Release and reception

The film has also been released under the title ''Screwed''. A review in ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' states that this "Story about a manga artist who goes on a ' Saragossa Manuscript'–like dream odyssey will leave most non-Japanese viewers baffled."

References

Japanese drama films 1998 films Films based on manga Films directed by Teruo Ishii {{1990s-Japan-film-stub