Sabu(XII)
- Director
- Writer
- Actor
Japanese director/writer/actor whose often kinetic, cyberpunk style is
much imitated. He expressed appreciation over the similarity of the
international hit German film "Run Lola Run" (1998) to his first film
as a director/writer, "Dangan Runner" (1996). When asked at the Chicago
International Film Festival to recommend a film school, the black
leather-jacketed Tanaka replied (via translator) "I've written and
directed 5 award-winning movies and I didn't go to film school - so you
shouldn't have to either !" At international film festivals, enjoys
having his picture taken with audience members.
Acted in at least 5 films, before his first as director/writer. Acted
in 1 movie each by cult auteurs
Kiyoshi Kurosawa
(Pulse (2001), aka Pulse) and Takashi Miike
(Dead or Alive trilogy, Ishi the Killer). Has mostly used his birth
name Hiroyuki Tanaka as an actor, often portraying cold-blooded
gangsters, while mostly uses the name Sabu as director/writer.
His own films often involve yakuza and black comedy, but recent films
are more stylistically diverse. Also wrote and directed "A1012K," a
short science-fiction film (2002), about a robot gone berserk in a
shopping mall. Older members of Japanese superstar pop/boy band V6 have
appeared in several of Tanaka's movies.
much imitated. He expressed appreciation over the similarity of the
international hit German film "Run Lola Run" (1998) to his first film
as a director/writer, "Dangan Runner" (1996). When asked at the Chicago
International Film Festival to recommend a film school, the black
leather-jacketed Tanaka replied (via translator) "I've written and
directed 5 award-winning movies and I didn't go to film school - so you
shouldn't have to either !" At international film festivals, enjoys
having his picture taken with audience members.
Acted in at least 5 films, before his first as director/writer. Acted
in 1 movie each by cult auteurs
Kiyoshi Kurosawa
(Pulse (2001), aka Pulse) and Takashi Miike
(Dead or Alive trilogy, Ishi the Killer). Has mostly used his birth
name Hiroyuki Tanaka as an actor, often portraying cold-blooded
gangsters, while mostly uses the name Sabu as director/writer.
His own films often involve yakuza and black comedy, but recent films
are more stylistically diverse. Also wrote and directed "A1012K," a
short science-fiction film (2002), about a robot gone berserk in a
shopping mall. Older members of Japanese superstar pop/boy band V6 have
appeared in several of Tanaka's movies.