Juvenile Jungle

An idyllic summer agitating the waters of traditional Japanese cinema.

Bathed in an endless summer of gambling, boating and drinking with their rebellious friends, brothers Haruji and Natsuhisa seem set up for another indulgent vacation by the seaside. A chance meeting with Eri has Haruji smitten with first love, and it looks like his quiet nature has won her over. But the explosive, directionless energy and hidden secrets of those around him are about to rampage his experience of love and brotherhood, in an unforgettable blaze off Nakahira’s silver screen.

Based on the novel Crazed Fruit by Shintarō Ishihara, Juvenile Jungle portrays the sexual revolution of Japan’s disillusioned and privileged post-war youth, often referred to as the taiyōzoku or ‘sun tribe generation’. An immediate cultural phenomenon, it followed the novel in representing the voice of this restless and rebellious crowd in popular culture for the first time. Scored by award-winning composers Masaru Satō and Tōru Takemitsu, Nakahira’s film inspired a new genre for the taiyōzoku, and pioneered stylistic territories that internationally propelled the New Wave movement.

Awards & Accolades

Based on the novel by Akutagawa prize winner Shintarō Ishihara

Post-Film Talk and Q&A

Crazed Juveniles: 1950s and the Birth of the Japanese Jazz Movie

Dr Stephen Gaunson (RMIT University) will discuss Juvenile Jungle and its significant influence as a film of the taiyōzoku (‘Sun Tribe Generation’) genre. The discussion will also cover the contextual importance of music in the film and how it represents international cultural influx.