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Tetsuo (Original title)Tetsuo The Iron Man (Alternative title)
Date: 1988 (Release)

Country: Japan

Director: Shinya Tsukamoto

Production company billing: Kaiju Theatre in association with Japan Home Video/K2 Spirit/SEN Academy ratio [1:1.33] Subtitles
Synopsis: Nightmare fantasy in which after knocking down a rather strange pedestrian, the driver of a car begins to turn into a metallic monster.

Genres:
Fantasy, Science Fiction

Subjects:
Monsters, Robots
Releases
Date: 1988Country: JapanRelease type: unknownFormat: 16mm Film - Black and White - SoundRuntime: 67 mins Length: 2412 FeetSubtitles: Japanese
Date: October 2018Country: United KingdomRelease type: InternetFormat: not specified - Black and White - SoundRuntime: 67 mins Dialogue (original): Japanese

Credits (25)
A Production by: Kaijyu Theatre, In Association with: Japan Home Video, In Association with: K2 Spirit, SEN, Producer: Shinya Tsukamoto, Production Assistant: Nobu Kanaoka, Production Assistant: Hiroyuki Kobato, Production Assistant: Akiko Ishigami, Production Assistant: Akiko Kodaka, Assistant Director: Kei Fujiwara, Screenplay: Shinya Tsukamoto, Director of Photography: Shinya Tsukamoto, Director of Photography: Kei Fujiwara, Lighting: Shinya Tsukamoto, Special Effects Supervisor: Shinya Tsukamoto, Editor: Shinya Tsukamoto, Art Director: Shinya Tsukamoto, Wardrobe: Kei Fujiwara, Music: Chu Ishikawa, Music Operator: Mitsuhiro Ozaki, Insert Music: Akio Okosawa, Sound: Asashi Sound Studio, Subtitles [English subtitled version]: Kiyo Jao, Tony Rayns
Cast (6)
Shinya Tsukamoto (metal fetishist), Tomoro Taguchi (salaryman), Kei Fujiwara (salaryman's girlfriend), Nobu Kanaoka (woman in glasses), Naomasa Musaka (doctor), Renji Ishibashi (tramp)
Articles held in BFI Reuben Library (11)
In: Science fiction film and television v13 n3 Autumn 2020  Pages: 363-386
Title: Global cyberpunk: reclaiming utopia in Japanese cyberpunk filmAuthor: Myserson, SashaArticle type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Discusses the Japanese student protests of the 1960s and later responses to them in three Japanese cyberpunk films: 'Burst City' (Ishii, 1982), 'Tetsuo: the Iron Man' (Tsukamoto, 1989) and '√964 Pinocchio' (Fukui, 1991. Aka 'Screams of Blasphemy'). Locates the protests in their wider global context, and argues that the films seek to critique, transform and preserve their utopian spirit of activism. Part of the special issue 'Screening utopia in dystopian times’.

In: American Cinematographer v86 n12 December 2005  Page: 14,16,18
Title: DVD Playback: Tetsuo: The Iron Man & A Snake of JuneAuthor: WILLIAMS, David E. Article type: DVD ReviewLanguage: English

In: Sight and Sound v12 n7 July 2002  Page: 61
Title: Home movies: reviewsAuthor: WALTERS, Ben Article type: DVD ReviewLanguage: English

In: Cinefantastique v23 n5 February 1993  Pages: 50-52
Title: Tetsuo The Iron ManAuthor: PERSONS, Dan Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Shinya Tsukamoto talks about making TETSUO.

In: Sight and Sound v3 n6 June 1993  Page: 69
Title: [Sight and Sound - v3 n6 June 1993: no known title]Article type: NoteLanguage: English
Description: Video note

In: Cinefantastique v23 n5 February 1993  Page: 53
Title: Cheap GeniusAuthor: PERSONS, Dan Article type: ReviewLanguage: English

In: Variety 27 Apr 1992  Page: 81
Title: [Variety - 27 Apr 1992: no known title]Author: STEVENSON, William Article type: CreditsLanguage: English
Description: Review. Credits.

In: Interview v22 n5 May 1992  Page: 70
Title: Tetsuo: the Iron ManAuthor: BECK, Henry Cabot Article type: ReviewLanguage: English
Description: Review

In: Sight and Sound v1 n8 December 1991  Pages: 12-15
Title: Tokyo stories.Author: RAYNS, Tony Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: A report on the state of the Japanese cinema, examining: the role of independent film-makers; the popularity of American films; sources of finance; pornographic videos; censorship codes and the films TETSUO and TETSUO 2.

In: Sight and Sound v1 n5 September 1991  Page: 52
Title: [Sight and Sound - v1 n5 September 1991: no known title]Article type: CreditsLanguage: English

In: Premiere v4 n11 July 1991  Pages: 29-30
Title: Cyborg Chic, Marquis MadnessAuthor: HOBERMAN, J. Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Reviews TETSUO: THE IRON MAN and MARQUIS arguing America does not have a monopoly on the bizarre.


Books held in BFI Reuben Library (1)
Title: Japanese horror cinema
Author: MCROY, Jay  Pages: xviii, 220 p.


Film, Video or Digital materials held in BFI National Archive(1)
Accessible materials to view(1)
Description: VHS cassetteBFI identifier: C-738027
Status: Viewing - Videotape can be requested for access



Video materials(1)
Description: VHS cassetteBFI identifier: C-738027
Status: Viewing - Videotape can be requested for access