Japanese film director Hiroyuki Tanaka, known professionally as Sabu, on Friday said he was deeply touched that the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) had selected his Taiwanese-Japanese co-production Arrested Memory (狂忘警探) for this year’s event.
The film is to be screened in TIFF’s Midnight Madness section, which traditionally showcases cult and genre films, including horror, action thrillers and dark comedies.
Arrested Memory is a dark comedic crime thriller that follows a Taiwanese detective diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease shortly after being transferred to a new station.
Photo courtesy of Yi Tiao Long Hu Bao International Entertainment Co via CNA
As his memory deteriorates, he becomes embroiled in a high-profile kidnapping case.
The film features a star-studded cast, including Taiwan’s Ethan Juan (阮經天), Hsieh Ying-xuan (謝盈萱) and Moon Lee (李沐), alongside Japan’s Shinichi Tsutsumi and Reika Kirishima.
The film makes its North American premiere as one of 10 selections in the Midnight Madness section during the 51st TIFF, which runs from Sept. 10 to Sept. 20.
In a press release, Sabu said he was deeply honored by the recognition.
“To be able to get recognized with an original script without having to change my signature cinema style, while getting such positive comments, is one of the happiest things a filmmaker like me can experience,” he said. “This also allows me to firmly reassure myself to continue making movies that I believe in and continue walking on the path that I have chosen for myself.”
Arrested Memory has been selected to make its world premiere as an out-of-competition entry at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival next month.
Sabu said he was impressed by the importance Taiwanese actors place on developing their characters, regardless of the size of the role.
He praised Juan’s performance, saying it far exceeded his expectations.
Juan spent three months training in judo and firearms for the role and took time to build camaraderie with his castmates, Sabu said.
“He [Juan] not only displayed great strength and presence, he expressed the layered emotional nuance between sadness and sorrow with precision,” Sabu said.
Asked to identify a standout moment in the film, he pointed to a dance sequence between Juan and Lee, describing it as an unforgettable scene blending stylish elegance with touches of craziness and absurdity.
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