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Typhoon Club

Play trailer Poster for Typhoon Club 1986 1h 55m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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86% Tomatometer 7 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Winner of the Grand Prix at the first Tokyo International Film Festival in 1985, Typhoon Club is widely regarded as the seminal film of director Shinji Somai's career. A work of raw, elemental power, it follows an ensemble of junior high students in a provincial town, beset by a summer-y malaise as a typhoon looms. When the storm makes landfall, the teens find themselves holed up in their school unsupervised, while another classmate (Yuki Kudo) disappears alone on a harrowing trek to the big city. Set adrift in a world suddenly unmoored, the students let loose their pent-up angst and burgeoning passions in a series of propulsive, phantasmic scenes--part apocalypse, part utopia--as the deluge rages on into the night. Observed in daring long takes, director Somai gives material form to the students' turbulent inner lives. When day breaks and the rains let up, the youngsters open their eyes to a world in ruins--or a world renewed. The 10th best Japanese film of all time, according to Japan's Kinema Junpo poll.
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Typhoon Club

Critics Reviews

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Jake Cole Slant Magazine Jun 11, 2024
Sômai Shinji’s anti-coming-of-age film is as beautiful as it is troubling. Go to Full Review Anton Bitel Little White Lies Nov 17, 2023
The typhoon that these schoolmates use an excuse not to go home also serves as an objective correlative for their raging, potentially dangerous emotions, as death makes its first encroachment on their not-so-innocent lives. Go to Full Review Vincent Canby New York Times Aug 25, 2023
They describe the action without ever interpreting it. After a while, one realizes that there really isn't an awful lot to interpret. Go to Full Review CJ Sheu Review Film Review Sep 28, 2026
The watchword of the film is naturalism—realism with the hard edges preserved. [...] These kids are stuck between a maturing body and still childish mind. Go to Full Review Tom Spoors Loud and Clear Reviews Aug 5, 2024
4.5/5
it’s rare to see a coming-of-age film this assured and with this much to say. Sōmai explores what it means to be young, placing his characters in dangerous situations in order to push their psyche to their extremes. Go to Full Review Lee Jutton Film Inquiry Sep 8, 2023
It might sound unpleasant, but it’s Somai’s unflinching depiction of such unpleasantness—such unhappiness—that makes Typhoon Club such a powerful portrayal of youthful disconnect. Go to Full Review Read all reviews
Typhoon Club

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Cast & Crew

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Shinji Sômai

Director

Yuichi Mikami

Kyoichi Mikami

Yûki Kudô

Rie Takami

Tomokazu Miura

Teacher Umemiya

Shigeru Kurebayashi

Ken Shimizu

Saburô Date

Okabe
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Typhoon Club

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Movie Info

Synopsis Winner of the Grand Prix at the first Tokyo International Film Festival in 1985, Typhoon Club is widely regarded as the seminal film of director Shinji Somai's career. A work of raw, elemental power, it follows an ensemble of junior high students in a provincial town, beset by a summer-y malaise as a typhoon looms. When the storm makes landfall, the teens find themselves holed up in their school unsupervised, while another classmate (Yuki Kudo) disappears alone on a harrowing trek to the big city. Set adrift in a world suddenly unmoored, the students let loose their pent-up angst and burgeoning passions in a series of propulsive, phantasmic scenes--part apocalypse, part utopia--as the deluge rages on into the night. Observed in daring long takes, director Somai gives material form to the students' turbulent inner lives. When day breaks and the rains let up, the youngsters open their eyes to a world in ruins--or a world renewed. The 10th best Japanese film of all time, according to Japan's Kinema Junpo poll.
Director
Shinji Sômai
Producer
Susumu Miyasaka, Ben Yamamoto
Screenwriter
Yuji Kato, Susumu Miyasaka
Production Co
Director's Company
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 12, 1986, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Sep 8, 2023
Runtime
1h 55m
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