Commensal (2017)
A two-channel installation utilizing both digital video and 16mm film, Commensal focuses on the controversial figure of Issei Sagawa, who gained notoriety in 1981 when, as a graduate student in Paris, he murdered a fellow student and engaged in acts of cannibalism. After his release from a mental institution, Sagawa returned to Japan, and later appeared in innumerable documentaries and sexploitation films. In contrast to earlier journalistic documentaries on Sagawa, the film suspends moral judgment and explores a realm that eludes classification as either “documentary” or “pure fiction,” to instead chart the ambiguous territory between crime, fantasy, and social realities, between an individual and the economy of his public persona.
Director: Véréna Paravel, Lucien Castaing-Taylor
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 43 min
Release Date: June 10, 2017
Cast
Country: France, United Kingdom, United States of America
Language: Français, 日本語
Original Language: ja
More Films by Director: Véréna Paravel, Lucien Castaing-Taylor
More Films in Genre: Documentary
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Commensal about?
- A two-channel installation utilizing both digital video and 16mm film, Commensal focuses on the controversial figure of Issei Sagawa, who gained notoriety in 1981 when, as a graduate student in Paris, he murdered a fellow student and engaged in acts of cannibalism. After his release from a mental institution, Sagawa returned to Japan, and later appeared in innumerable documentaries and sexploitation films. In contrast to earlier journalistic documentaries on Sagawa, the film suspends moral judgment and explores a realm that eludes classification as either “documentary” or “pure fiction,” to instead chart the ambiguous territory between crime, fantasy, and social realities, between an individual and the economy of his public persona.
- Who directed Commensal?
- Commensal was directed by Véréna Paravel, Lucien Castaing-Taylor.
- Who stars in Commensal?
- Commensal stars Issei Sagawa.
- How long is Commensal?
- Commensal has a runtime of 43m (43 minutes).
- What genre is Commensal?
- Commensal is a Documentary film.
- Where was Commensal produced?
- Commensal was produced in France, United Kingdom, United States of America.