Dopperugengâ (2003, JAP) C-106m. ** D: Kiyoshi Kurosawa. Starring Kôji Yakusho, Hiromi Nagasaku, Yusuke Santamaria, Masahiro Toda, Hitomi Sato. Psycho drama (not a horror film) about scientist Yakusho, who hears of the appearance of somebody's Doppelgänger and is more than troubled when his own turns up, as legend has it that when you see it you will die. While working on a robot wheelchair that disabled people can operate with their will-power, the scientist must come to terms with his alter ego, an often unconventional, uninhibited darker side of his. Interesting, even intellectual examination of inner demons unfortunately becomes very strange towards the end and reaches an unsatisfying conclusion. Cowritten and co-edited by the director. For some of the Doppelgänger scenes it expands into widescreen format using the split-screen technique. English title: DOPPELGÄNGER.


© Ron Altman