Plot: Sabu and Eiji are childhood friends who are inseparable. One day, Eiji disappears and is nowhere to be found. Sabu can't forget his friend though and he starts asking around about his whereabouts. He finally learns that Eiji was taken to a nearby prisoner island, as he is suspected of stealing a golden handkerchief.
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December 07, 2023
If you think Miike can only do weird and extravagant, it means you simply haven't seen the right films yet. Sabu is a somewhat inconspicuous entry in Miike's oeuvre, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth seeking out. It's a sweet and genuine samurai drama/romance with some rougher moments spread throughout.
Tatsuya Fujiwara's performance is strong, the pacing is lovely, and the cinematography and score are proper (though they're not quite top-of-the-line, which is where the film does lose some points). I loved the film the first time I watched it, having seen so many other films in between it has lost some of its charm, but it's still a worthy film, even (or maybe especially) when you're not a Miike adept.
July 02, 2007
In the West, Miike is often seen as this crazy, over-the-top guy, but that's partly because films like Sabu were never promoted much on our shores. Miike has a softer side and once you start to dig a bit deeper into his oeuvre, you'll see he's had a pretty varied output from the very beginning.
Sabu is a film about two good friends (Eiji and Sabu) who work together in a store. When Eiji just disappears one day, Sabu struggles with the loss of his friend, and he decides to find out what happened to him. His journey brings him to Ishikawa, a prison island where Eiji ended up.
There are a few darker/harsher scenes here, but overall the film has a softer, more poetic tone. The cinematography is calm and polished, performances are great across the board and there are a few interesting twists that keep the story intriguing. Not one of Miike's most exuberant films, but solid proof that he's capable of more than just craziness.