Typhoon Club

Typhoon Club (1985)

Directed by: Shinji Sōmai

Country: Japan

I watched a new 4K restoration of "Typhoon Club" at the IFC Center in Greenwich Village during a stop on my mission to see movies all over NYC. The film follows a group of Japanese schoolchildren who find themselves trapped inside school during a powerful typhoon, which perhaps not so subtly symbolizes the unstoppable force of their adolescence. Sōmai utilizes nature as a backdrop to guide the characters through their journey – from the impending typhoon, through the storm's turmoil, and towards the ultimate destinations of salvation, adulthood, or death.

The children contemplate life, emerging sexuality, death, and creation – topics that sometimes feel more aligned with graduate philosophy discussions than typical junior high conversations. Their earnest and solemn declarations about their inevitable fate and qualms with human nature made me laugh, given their seriousness and passion, which are so out of sync with their age.

However, their impulsive behavior is shocking, palpable, and disturbing – a bit more age-appropriate than some of their dialogue. It was nerve-racking to see how they would decide to explore their newfound feelings of sexuality, curiosity, grief, and loneliness usually in hot-headed actions. These kids act on their compulsions, only to forget them in the blink of an eye, much like children often do.

Akihiro Ito's remarkable camera skillfully spied on them during these moments. He uses obstructed or unmoving shots to remain discreet and avoid detection. I'm always astounded by films that can effectively capture the power of the mundane without teetering into tedious sequences, and the dynamic shots that harbored a sense of secrecy broke up long takes.

Whether it was under the direction of Sōmai, natural instinct, or a mix of both, the kids' performances are phenomenal, marking this film as one of the finest showcases of child acting I've ever seen.