Carlotta Boards Seijun Suzuki Doc ‘Twist & Shoot Mister Suzuki’

Carlotta Films is set to co-produce “Twist & Shoot Mister Suzuki,” an ambitious new documentary on Japanese cult auteur Seijun Suzuki, directed by Yves Montmayeur (“Sangre del Toro”).

The leading French classic film distributor announced the project at the Lumière Film Festival in Lyon, where Suzuki is being honored with a five-film retrospective, including the world premiere of the restored “Carmen from Kawachi,” screening for the first time outside Japan.

A co-production between Brilliant Pictures, Beall Productions and Carlotta Films, in partnership with Nikkatsu Corporation – which holds global rights to nearly all of Suzuki’s films – the documentary will explore the life and legacy of the filmmaker who redefined postwar Japanese cinema with cult classics such as “Tokyo Drifter” and “Branded to Kill.”

Working within the rigid studio system of 1960s Japan, Suzuki broke every rule in the book, turning out wild gangster movies packed with pop-art color, absurd humor and radical editing. Though often dismissed at the time, his films went on to influence generations of filmmakers, from Jim Jarmusch, Quentin Tarantino and Wong Kar-wai to Baz Luhrmann, Damien Chazelle, John Woo and Yorgos Lanthimos.

The documentary will trace Suzuki’s singular vision through rare archival material, interviews with Suzuki himself, his regular leading man Joe Shishido, and longtime production designer Takeo Kimura, alongside contemporary directors inspired by his work.

Montmayeur, a specialist of Japanese cinema (“Citizen Kitano,” “Tokyo Paranormal”) and currently in Lyon to present his Guillermo del Toro documentary “Sangre del Toro,” said the film will mirror Suzuki’s “free jazz style,” breaking from traditional documentary conventions.

While centered on film, the documentary will also explore how Suzuki’s visual signature rippled across other art forms, from manga whose bold framing and frenetic rhythm owe much to Suzuki’s pop sensibility, to contemporary visual art, where his playful disregard for convention has left an indelible mark.

Carlotta’s collaboration with Nikkatsu extends beyond the film. The French distributor is spearheading a major campaign to reintroduce Suzuki’s work to global audiences, starting with the Lumière screenings and continuing with an 11-film theatrical and home entertainment rollout next year.

The project reflects Carlotta’s broader philosophy, founder Vincent Paul-Boncour told Variety. “Carlotta Films has always sought to go beyond a ‘simple’ film release or retrospective. Following our documentaries on Kinuyo Tanaka, Kiju Yoshida and Bollywood cinema, this collaboration with Yves Montmayeur will offer audiences a deeper understanding of Suzuki’s work and help expand its reach across platforms and media.”  

Alongside the Suzuki project, Carlotta arrives at the Lumière Festival’s 13th Marché International du Film Classique (MIFC) with a string of high-profile acquisitions. The French distributor has picked up “Queen Kelly” (1929), Erich von Stroheim’s legendary unfinished silent classic, in a newly reconstructed and never-before-seen 4K-restored version. The film, acquired from Kino Lorber on behalf of Milestone Films, screens this week in Lyon as part of the festival’s “Sublimes Moments du Muet” section.

Carlotta is also expanding its Hungarian slate with 14 restored titles by Miklós Jancsó, acquired from the National Film Institute – Film Archive in Budapest, including cult works “The Round-Up” (1966) and “Red Psalm” (1972), alongside rarer gems like “Electra, My Love” (1974) and “Hungarian Rhapsody” (1979). Hungary is this year’s guest of honor at the MIFC.

The Lumière Film Festival runs in and around Lyon until Oct. 19, with the MIFC closing on Oct. 17.