At the end of the month Third Window Films release a digitally re-mastered version of the Shinya Tsukamoto film Bullet Ballet on DVD ad Blu-ray. Shinya Tsukamoto takes the lead in this grim and exciting looking film which co-stars regulars like Tomorowo Taguchi. He is quite fond of using black-and-white but consider its strong impact in Tetsuo: The Iron Man and A Snake of June and I’ll be purchasing this one to add to my Tsukamoto collection. Here are the details:
Bullet Ballet 
Japanese Title：バルット バレエ
Romaji: Barutto Baree
Japanese Release Date: December 18th, 1999
UK Release Date: December 30th, 2013
Running Time: 87 mins.
Director: Shinya Tsukamoto
Writer: Shinya Tsukamoto
Starring: Shinya Tsukamoto, Kirina Mano, Tomorowo Taguchi, Tatsuya Nakamura, Kyoka Suzuki, Hisashi Igawa, Takahiro Murase, Keisuke Yoshida, Hiromi Kuronuma
This release is special because it has been digitally restored by Shinya Tsukamoto much like he did with his Tetsuo films and Tokyo Fist so expect excellent visuals. On top of the excellent visuals there will be an exclusive new interview with Shinya Tsukamoto, a clip from original concert, a new UK trailer and the original theatrical trailer.
Goda (Shinya Tsukamoto) is a thirty-something filmmaker. While his work may seem intriguing to some his life is absolutely average – long hours at the office, drinks after work, an equally busy girlfriend, Kiriko, that he’s been with for a decade. No surprises. No detours. No shocks. That is until he returns home one night to find police cars and ambulances surrounding the entrance to his apartment building. When he gets upstairs he’s told that Kiriko has committed suicide. If this wasn’t devastating enough Goda also learns that she killed herself with a bullet to the head. With Japan having some of the strictest set of gun control laws on the books not only is Goda left with the yawning, black “why” behind Kiriko’s suicide, but also a whole other set of mysterious “hows”, “wheres” and “whos”. How did Kiriko get a handgun in the first place? From where? And most importantly from who? Goda goes on a quest into the gritty criminal underworld of Tokyo in order to answer these questions, and maybe inhabit the last days of Kiriko’s life.
DVD Specifications: Brand new digital restoration by Shinya Tsukamoto from his original negatives, Surround Sound, Anamorphic Widescreen with removable english subtitles
DVD Bonus Features: Exclusive new interview with Shinya Tsukamoto, Clip from original concert, New UK trailer, original theatrical trailer
