IMDb RATING
6.4/10
300
YOUR RATING
A colony of cockroaches lives peacefully in a messy bachelor's apartment until his new girlfriend moves in.A colony of cockroaches lives peacefully in a messy bachelor's apartment until his new girlfriend moves in.A colony of cockroaches lives peacefully in a messy bachelor's apartment until his new girlfriend moves in.
Photos
Eri Watanabe
- Wife
- (as Eriko Watanabe)
Atsuko Asano
- Naomi
- (voice)
Rebecca Forstadt
- Naomi (1992)
- (English version)
- (voice)
Ichirôta Miyakawa
- Ichirô
- (voice)
Steve Apostolina
- Ichirô (1992)
- (English version)
- (voice)
Mitsuru Hirata
- Yasuo
- (voice)
Steve Bulen
- Yasuo (1992)
- (English version)
- (voice)
Kôzô Shioya
- Takashi
- (voice)
Bill Capizzi
- Takashi (1992)
- (English version)
- (voice)
Ryoko Takakura
- Parsley
- (voice)
Melora Harte
- Parsley (1992)
- (English version)
- (voice)
Hiroshi Yagyû
- Seiji
- (voice)
Michael McConnohie
- Seiji (1992)
- (English version)
- (voice)
Tanie Kitabayashi
- Torah
- (voice)
Barbara Goodson
- Hostess (1992)
- (English version)
- (voice)
- Director
- Writers
- Hiroaki Yoshida
- Steve Kramer
- Carl Macek(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- Quotes
Ochiro: So it's come down to this... total war. But you know what? I'm going to survive it. I feel certain about that.
Hans: Maybe so. I hope so. Then when it's all over you and I can settle things between us.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Chronic Rift: War in Science Fiction (1991)
Featured review
Smart storytelling & film-making shape an unexpectedly impactful movie
It doesn't take long for this to begin to curry favor. The animation is well done with surprising, welcome detail, depth, and nuance; Iwao Yamaki's live-action cinematography is quite smart, especially for the ways in which it emphasizes the cockroach perspective, or operates on their level, likewise accentuating swell minutiae in each scene. I dare say the blending of these two facets are certainly on par with other pictures that have done the same, or possibly even more smooth and effective; it's certainly quite clever in how an ordinary human household (or otherwise surroundings) is thusly presented in a unique way. As the animated cockroaches take precedence and are spotlighted as protagonists, anyone who has watched more drama-oriented anime will glean similar feelings from this - though as the narrative progresses, simple drama gives way to darker and more profound airs. Yes, there's quite a lot to love about 'Twilight of the cockroaches' right from the start, and whether one is a fan of international cinema, anime, the combination of animation and live-action, or just a cinephile generally, this is readily absorbing and enjoyable, and worth exploring.
Cemented by no few pieces of dialogue, for those with the knowledge and context to appreciate it there are reflections and commentary on contemporary Japanese society lurking within the film; one doesn't necessarily even need that background to glean the currents coursing throughout. Even setting aside such particulars, however, still the movie carries robust themes and story ideas: the tale of a complex, time-honored society struggling to remain strong and relevant, and to survive in an ever-changing landscape as larger, more dominant forces seem to control their destiny. There's a lot going on here, with a metaphor is so thin that it's scarcely a metaphor at all; hand in hand with the narrative focus, the film tarries with hints of tragedy, and even horror, as events progress; in spotlighting a few characters above all, every thought borne in the whole is applied as well to them. The premise may portend as much, broadly speaking, but still one is somewhat taken aback; it's the same with any picture - one can gain a sense of what to expect, but to actually sit and watch the story unfold is another matter. To the great credit of filmmaker Hiroaki Yoshida, he has shaped the production with a sharp mind and a keen eye, and the result is even better than I could have hoped.
'Twilight of the cockroaches' is flush with detail in both facets of the visual presentation, and no less so in its storytelling or fundamental craftsmanship. The sound design is geared toward amplifying ordinary noises as they might seem to such smaller creatures; the scene writing and dialogue zeroes in on the specifics of how the roaches live, and the big ideas that draw parallels between their culture and Japan in the 1980s. Morgan Fisher's original score is rich with themes that ably complement the mood at any point, and given the overall tenor of the feature, especially noteworthy are those that carry a more sorrowful or pensive slant. Down to the voice work and the performances of Kaoru Kobayashi and Setsuko Karasuma in the live-action roles, and certainly including production design and art direction, all involved put in excellent work to make this an unexpectedly earnest, impactful movie. And I think it's a stark success. As a matter of personal preference I can understand that this won't appeal to all comers, yet even if some aspect of the film doesn't readily strike one's fancy, it boasts such intelligence and sincerity in its craft and storytelling that I rather believe it would surprise folks who stumble onto it. All I can say is that I'm very pleased with just how good it is, and I wouldn't have any qualms of recommending it to just about anyone. If you have a chance to watch 'Twilight of the cockroaches,' this is a modern classic that deserves recognition.
Cemented by no few pieces of dialogue, for those with the knowledge and context to appreciate it there are reflections and commentary on contemporary Japanese society lurking within the film; one doesn't necessarily even need that background to glean the currents coursing throughout. Even setting aside such particulars, however, still the movie carries robust themes and story ideas: the tale of a complex, time-honored society struggling to remain strong and relevant, and to survive in an ever-changing landscape as larger, more dominant forces seem to control their destiny. There's a lot going on here, with a metaphor is so thin that it's scarcely a metaphor at all; hand in hand with the narrative focus, the film tarries with hints of tragedy, and even horror, as events progress; in spotlighting a few characters above all, every thought borne in the whole is applied as well to them. The premise may portend as much, broadly speaking, but still one is somewhat taken aback; it's the same with any picture - one can gain a sense of what to expect, but to actually sit and watch the story unfold is another matter. To the great credit of filmmaker Hiroaki Yoshida, he has shaped the production with a sharp mind and a keen eye, and the result is even better than I could have hoped.
'Twilight of the cockroaches' is flush with detail in both facets of the visual presentation, and no less so in its storytelling or fundamental craftsmanship. The sound design is geared toward amplifying ordinary noises as they might seem to such smaller creatures; the scene writing and dialogue zeroes in on the specifics of how the roaches live, and the big ideas that draw parallels between their culture and Japan in the 1980s. Morgan Fisher's original score is rich with themes that ably complement the mood at any point, and given the overall tenor of the feature, especially noteworthy are those that carry a more sorrowful or pensive slant. Down to the voice work and the performances of Kaoru Kobayashi and Setsuko Karasuma in the live-action roles, and certainly including production design and art direction, all involved put in excellent work to make this an unexpectedly earnest, impactful movie. And I think it's a stark success. As a matter of personal preference I can understand that this won't appeal to all comers, yet even if some aspect of the film doesn't readily strike one's fancy, it boasts such intelligence and sincerity in its craft and storytelling that I rather believe it would surprise folks who stumble onto it. All I can say is that I'm very pleased with just how good it is, and I wouldn't have any qualms of recommending it to just about anyone. If you have a chance to watch 'Twilight of the cockroaches,' this is a modern classic that deserves recognition.
helpful•00
- I_Ailurophile
- Feb 26, 2023
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- Also known as
- Der Untergang der Küchenschaben
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Top Gap
By what name was Twilight of the Cockroaches (1987) officially released in Canada in English?
Answer