'Genius or Man-made Disaster! Shigeru Izumiya Full Power Live THE MOVIE' Crowdfunding Launches! A Reunion of the Legendary 'Crazy Thunder Road' and 'Burst City' Duo!

Press Release Information

Director Gakuryu Ishii and Shigeru Izumiya, the golden duo behind the legendary independent films 'Crazy Thunder Road' and 'Burst City' that left a powerful mark on Japanese cinema in the 1980s, have reunited. They are launching a crowdfunding campaign to produce a new punk-spirited film.

It has been 44 years since their last collaboration. Shigeru Izumiya is now nearing his 80th birthday. However, his energy and desire have not faded at all—in fact, they are accelerating. This is why Gakuryu Ishii has decided to point his camera at Izumiya once again.

'A live performance is not about technique; it is about showing your way of life.' This is not a mere live documentary or a retrospective. It is an attempt to turn Shigeru Izumiya himself into a work of art as he approaches 80! Join us in this continuation of the legend and cause an incident that transcends music.

### Supporting Live Houses The screenings will take place in live houses rather than traditional movie theaters. Shigeru Izumiya has been active in supporting live houses that have faced hardships due to COVID-19. By choosing these venues for the screenings, the project aims to share the desire to support music culture and the actual sites of live performances, and to re-recognize the value and significance of 'live house culture.'

Furthermore, since this is a 'live movie,' the goal is to provide an immersive experience under the unique acoustic environment and atmosphere of a live house, allowing the audience to feel the charm even more deeply while simultaneously revitalizing these venues.

### Capturing the Impulse In the early 1980s, Ishii and Izumiya created moments where music and visuals collided head-on in 'Crazy Thunder Road.' The impulses from that era were expanded in 'Burst City,' where punk's roar and the fever of the crowd transformed film from something to be 'watched' into something to be 'immersed in' (bathed in).

Now, they face the question once again: 'How do we capture and preserve the impulse?' Shigeru Izumiya's live performances are not polished acts but a sequence of words and emotions born only in that specific moment. This project attempts to reconstruct the sound, body, space, and heat of the audience, clashing them together on screen once more. It is an attempt to 'make the impulse itself into a movie.'

### Comment from Shigeru Izumiya 'I thought I was being audacious asking director Gakuryu Ishii to make a live movie for me, given I've only been involved in two of his films. But I am beyond happy this is happening. The shock I felt when I first encountered his visuals in 8mm film still remains today—I knew back then he was the only one! It’s a miraculous encounter. The title is "Genius or Man-made Disaster!" Ishii is that, and I am this. I probably won't be able to settle down until the movie is finished. Please look forward to it!'