[Mini Theater Revisited] No. 25 Shibuya style trend, hot summer of mini theaters... Part 2 "Trainspotting" and the season of Cinema Rise

Cinemarise was the leader in Shibuya's mini theater world. It started in the mid-'80s, reached its peak in the '90s, and was still going strong in the '0s.

`` Trainspotting '' (1996) had a long run of 33 weeks (about 8 weeks) and changed the history of mini theaters in Shibuya in the 1990s. In addition, `` Amélie '' (2001) ranked first in Rise's box office history, `` Mutu Dancing Maharaja '' (1995) ranked 3rd, `` Buena Vista Social Club '' (1999) ranked 4th, and `` Happy Together '' ranked 5th. '' (1997), which ranked 6th, and `` The Lovers on the Bridge '' (1991), which produced a series of blockbuster hits (``Trespo'' ranked 2nd overall).

It was in the spring of 2013 that I went to interview Cinemarise's representatives, President Mitsuhiro Sai and Managing Director Kanae Sai. It has been a long time since I last met the couple, and they looked back on the history of the theater, but there were also comments that made me feel that times had changed.

Three years after that interview... Cinemarise closed in January 2016 (its last film was ` `Golden Adele '' (15)). The sight of that final day is still firmly etched in my memory (a closing report will be included in the book version).

T2 Trainspotting, the sequel to Trainspotting that appears in the text below, was released in Japan in 2017. At that time, I was sad that there was no previous home (Cinema Rise) for the main characters to return to...

*The following articles were serialized on the website operated by Geijutsu Shimbun between 2013 and 2014. This time, we have received permission from Sawako Omori and Geijutsu Shinbunsha Co., Ltd. to reprint this work.

Index

• 33 week long run
• A happy fusion of music and images
• From art to music-oriented
• A sign of change
• Turning into a live house

33 week long run

In 1996, Cinemarise re-opened the theater on the second floor (formerly Shibuya Piccadilly) in addition to the movie theater in the basement, making it an independent theater with two theaters.

The opening film on the second floor was ` `Underground'' (1995, distributed by Herald Ace), a masterpiece by Yugoslavian director Emir Kusturica.

Other films include the American film `` Basketball Diaries '' (1995, distributed by Asmik, screened for 11 weeks), in which a young Leonardo DiCaprio plays a drug-addicted high school student, and Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc, which attracted attention for its fantastic visual beauty.・Director Caro's French film " Lost Children " (1995, distributed by Herald Ace, 14 week run), Wong Kar-wai's noir-like Hong Kong film " Fallen Angels " (1995, Prenon Ash distribution, 22 weeks) The two theaters screened ambitious works by talented people who lead the world's film industry, including the Coen Brothers' American film Fargo (1996, distributed by Asmik Cine Saison, 17 week run).

Among these, the British film ``Trainspotting'' (1996), which was released in November, caused a shock in the box office world. This is a film directed by up-and-coming director Danny Boyle, based on the best-selling youth novel written by British writer Irving Welsh.

The copy of the movie is "Choose your future. The best 'hilarious and tragic' youth film of the 90's." Since it is a youth group drama, five characters are lined up on the poster. The members include Renton in a wet T-shirt, his friends Begbie, Sick Boy, Spud, and his girlfriend Diane.

The photo is monochrome, and the area around the text is orange. This is a tasteful poster that uses only three colors, keeping the colors to a minimum. The dramatic facial expressions of the characters, such as distorted faces and full-on expressions, arouse expectations for the work.

Looking back on my personal memories from that time, the first time I saw this visual was not at a movie-related place, but at a CD shop. Shibuya is home to many shops selling imported CDs, including Tower Records and HMV, and it has become a habit for me to go there to check out new releases. These stores also publish free newspapers containing information on new releases, and ``Trainspotting'' was featured on the cover of the November 1996 issue of ``Bounce,'' a PR magazine published by Tower Records.

◉The unified design of the pamphlet, CD jacket, and original book gave a strong impression of the movie. The upper right is an advertisement published in Tower Records' PR magazine "Bounce".

A happy fusion of music and images