To Sleep So as to Dream

Two private detectives hunt for an actress trapped within the reel of a silent ninja film in Kaizo Hayashi’s (Zipang) dreamlike debut. This magical cinematic homage to the movie worlds of the 1910s and 1950s stands among the most impressive and critically praised Japanese films of its decade. The noir ode to the silent era drifts between illusion and allusion, chock full of references to Japan’s rich cinematic heritage, and featuring sets meticulously created by renowned designer Takeo Kimura.