1 / 8
ERA
Did you know
Released 21 years ago.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Strange Circus
"Reality is the mystery…"
2005 1h 48m JA
👍
7.2
SOLID
★7.2TMDB · 217
MysteryHorrorDrama
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
The erotic novelist Taeko is writing a morbid story of a family destroyed by incest, murder and abuse. Her assistant, Yuji, sets on a mission to uncover the reality of this story, but the reality might be too much to bear.
“Reality is the mystery…”
Where to watch · US
Cast
Rie Kuwana
Young Mitsuko
Masumi Miyazaki
Mitsuko / Sayuri / Taeko
Seiko Iwaido
Teenage Mitsuko
Issei Ishida
Yuji
Fujiko
Gozo's Mistress
Madamu Rejînu
Black Shadow
Tomorowo Taguchi
Taeko's Editor-in-Chief
Hiroshi Ohguchi
Gozo
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Sion Sono
- Writers
- Sion Sono
- Languages
- Japanese
- Countries
- Japan
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 8
CRAFT
Did you know
Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Sion Sono, shot by Yuichiro Otsuka. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Sion Sono. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Junichi Ito shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Rie Kuwana and Masumi Miyazaki and Seiko Iwaido carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "Reality is the mystery…".
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt0492784 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Sion Sono directs. Yuichiro Otsuka behind the camera. Sion Sono scores. Junichi Ito cuts. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 1Released 21 years ago.
- 2Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
- 3Directed by Sion Sono, shot by Yuichiro Otsuka. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 4Original score by Sion Sono. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 5Editor Junichi Ito shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 6Rie Kuwana and Masumi Miyazaki and Seiko Iwaido carry the top of the cast.
- 7Marketing tagline: "Reality is the mystery…".
- 8IMDB entry: tt0492784 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Yuichiro Otsuka
- Original score
- Sion Sono
- Editing
- Junichi Ito
- Runtime
- 108 min · 1h 48m
- Status
- Released
- Original language
- JA
- Certification (US)
- R18+
Also by
Sion Sono
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
- SE
Sedic
JP
Key crew
- ProducerToshiaki Nakazawa
- EditorJunichi Ito
- ProducerToshiie Tomida
- CastingMai Sugiyama
- ProducerToshihiro Satô
- Art DirectionYûto Ohba
- AuthorSion Sono
- ProducerKoji Hoshino
- Development ManagerMizue Kunizane
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- child abuse
- japan
- parent child relationship
- gore
- principal
- incest
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical2005-12-24R18+
Also known as
International titles
- Strange CircusGB
- Kimyou na circusJP
- Kimyō na SākasuJP
