PRINCESS RACCOON
aka OPERETTA TANUKI GOTEN

Year: 2005
UK: Yume Pictures
Cast: Ziyi Zhang, JO Odagiri, Hiroki Yakushimaru, Mikijiro Hira, Tara Yamamoto, Gentaro Takahashi, Saori Yuki, Miwako Ichikawa, Hibari Misora, Eisuke Sasai, Papaiya Suzuki, Taro Nanshu, Federico Aletta
Director: Seijun Suzuki
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese (English subtitles)
UK: 111 mins
UK Certificate: PG contains mild violence and sex references
UK Release Date: 30 June 2006 (Limited Release)
(ICA)
(in Japanese)

Synopsis

PRINCESS RACCOON is a fantasy operetta based on the beloved Japanese myth of the tanuki - a shape-shifting raccoon-like creature with magical powers.

Ziyi Zhang (MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA, 2046, HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS) plays Tanukihime, a beautiful princess who comes to the rescue of Amechiyo (JO Odagiri), a prince who's been cast out from his home by his own father, jealous of his son's handsome looks.

However, the princess is not all she seems and possesses magical powers that enable her to alter her body shape...

Best known for his florid, groundbreaking thrillers of the 1960's (TOKYO DRIFTER; BRANDED TO KILL; GATE OF FLESH), the inimitable Seijun Suzuki has crowned his long career with a dream project: a musical fantasia about a prince abandoned by his father who falls in love with an incredibly beautiful girl - who happens to be a raccoon spirit. With numbers ranging in style from rap to operetta and design to set the eyes on fire, this is one of the year's most surreal and unexpected entertainments.