SCHOOL IN THE CROSSHAIRS (1981)
Time for a story about extra-sensory perception and alien beings from Venus. Which, if these kind of movies are to be believed, are the sort of things that happen at schools in Japan all the time. But beyond the surreal waking dreams and nightmares of Obayashi’s work, famously seen in 1977’s House, what about real life study? Interestingly in this case he takes a lot of time to explore the idea of academic work versus sports clubs, and conformity against individual freedom. Should psychic powers be used to cheat in Kendo matches? Should roller-skating kids be stripped of their willpower by patrols of brainwashed committee members? Perhaps these questions answer themselves but it’s still an entertaining, if mostly light-hearted, examination of these kinds of issues.
