University of Laughs

2004 2h 1m JA

👍

7.2

SOLID

★7.2TMDB · 39

ComedyDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In pre-war Japan, a government censor tries to make the writer for a theater troupe alter his comedic script. As they work with and against each other, the script ends up developing in unexpected ways.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Koji Yakusho
Mutsuo Sakisaka
Goro Inagaki
Hajime Tsubaki
Masaya Takahashi
Masao Komatsu
Tae Kimura
Ai Kato

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Mamoru Hoshi
Writers: Koki Mitani, Koki Mitani
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 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 22 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

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 Mamoru Hoshi, shot by Hiroshi Takase. 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 Yūsuke Honma. 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 Masaaki Yamamoto 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

Koji Yakusho and Goro Inagaki and Masaya Takahashi carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0436886 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 39 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Mamoru Hoshi directs. Hiroshi Takase behind the camera. Yūsuke Honma scores. Masaaki Yamamoto cuts. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 22 years ago.
2Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
3Directed by Mamoru Hoshi, shot by Hiroshi Takase. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Yūsuke Honma. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Masaaki Yamamoto shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Koji Yakusho and Goro Inagaki and Masaya Takahashi carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0436886 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 39 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.