Overview: Throughout the 1980s, Shohei Imamura (The Pornographers, Profound Desires of the Gods), a leading figure of the Japanese New Wave era of the 1960s, cemented his international reputation as one of the most important directors of his generation with a series of films that all competed at Cannes to great critical acclaim.

This exclusive box set from Arrow Academy presents restored versions of three late career classics from the legendary filmmaker: The Ballad of Narayama (1983), making its HD debut, Zegen (1987), and the harrowing Black Rain (1989).

Blu-ray Verdict: First up is 'The Ballad of Narayama' (1983) where in a poor 19th century rural Japanese village, everyone who reaches the age of 70 has to climb a nearby mountain to die. An old woman is getting close to the cut-off age, and we follow her last days with her family.

With beautiful photography and sensitive, elegant acting, this is perhaps the best exploration of what it means to be human. As usual, Shohei Imamura draws direct parallels between the basic drives and instincts (hunger, greed, lust, anger, envy) of people and other animals.

I have friends who have not made it through watching it because they found these comparisons so depressing when shown in the desperately poor rural Japan during the late 19th century.

What they missed was the core intelligence, caring, self sacrifice, clear thinking and love that enabled that community, and by extension the human race, to survive such difficult times.

This sympathetic portrayal of a family in a rural village is the best of ten films I have seen from Imamura, with an epic scale of Akira Kurosawa and all of the subtlety of Ozu.

Making its HD debut, up next is 'Zegen' (1987) where a Japanese immigrant in 1901 Hong Kong wishes to become a simple shopkeeper. Fate soon intervenes, allowing him to mix adventure and fervent patriotism with greed.

In, 'Zegen,' Imamura tells the tale of the "Japanese Dream" of booming pre-war economics through exaggeration and satire: Muraoka's obsessive attempts of honoring his country are seen as fussy and comical and the constant presence of giggling prostitutes also strengthens the sense of laughableness that surrounds Imamura's trusted actor Ken Ogata in the lead role.

On the other hand, the relationship of Iheiji's sensible lover Shiho (Mitsuko Baisho), also a prostitute, and a rivaling pimp Wang (Chun Hsiung Ko) brings a feel of sadness in the story, as does the general idea of girls leaving their homes or being kidnapped to work as prostitutes overseas, even if the characters are too keen on their daily bumblings to ever realize it.

The satirical aspects become perhaps the most obvious during the final 15 minutes or so, when Muraoka has finally lost his grip on reality in the pressures of honor.

At this point, he has moved from laughable to pathetic – Imamura's commentary on economy and patriotism replacing common sense is not left unclear.

Lastly we get 'Black Rain' (1989), which is the story of the aftermath of the Hiroshima bombing, based on Masuji Ibuse's novel.

The film opens to the moments prior to the dropping of the A-bomb on Hiroshima and how this tragic incident affects one family: a young woman, Yasuko, who lives with her aunt and uncle.

Even in black and white, and using special effects that are quite primitive by modern standards but emotive and effective nonetheless, the depictions of the immediate aftermath of the bomb are quite horrific.

Family members become unrecognizable to each other, others resemble zombies as they wander the streets bedraggled and in shock.

The title refers to rainfall that fell soon after the bomb, which was mixed with radioactive ash, and in which Yasuko is caught. Rumors of Yasuko's being in Hiroshima at the time of the bombing affect her marriage prospects and it is later learnt that the black rain is indeed causing sicknesses.

The film is concerned not just with the physical effects of the bomb on the Japanese, but on the social and psychological damage that was wrought.

I found the film compassionate and a fascinating journey into a unique culture. While the film is primarily concerned with the pain felt by one family, the film's gentle political message is relevant today and probably for all time - wars have horrific consequences, and should not be entered into unless absolutely necessary. This is a Widescreen Presentation (1.78:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs and comes with the Special Features of:

Restored High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentations of all three films
Original lossless Japanese PCM 1.0 mono soundtracks
Optional English subtitles
Brand new audio commentaries on all three films by Japanese cinema expert Jasper Sharp
Brand new, in-depth appreciations of all three films by Japanese cinema expert Tony Rayns
Alternate color ending to Black Rain, shot by Imamura but removed from the film shortly before its release
Archival interviews on Black Rain with actress Yoshiko Tanaka and assistant director Takashi Miike
Multiple trailers and image galleries
Original Japanese press kits for The Ballad of Narayama and Black Rain (BD-ROM content)
Limited edition 60-page booklet containing new writing by Tom Mes
Limited edition packaging featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tony Stella

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