Throw Away Your Books, Rally in the Streets

Length: 137 minutes

Released: 1971-04-24

By: Shūji Terayama

From: Japan

Genres: Drama, Experimental, Art House

Letterboxd

About

Throw Away Your Books, Rally in the Streets is a 1971 Japanese avant-garde film directed by Shūji Terayama. The story revolves around a disenchanted young man named Julian who rebels against societal norms and his oppressive family. He retreats into a surreal and fantastical world of his imagination, where he engages in various unconventional and provocative acts of rebellion, including rejecting traditional notions of family, sex, and politics. The film is known for its bold and experimental style, characterized by a fragmented narrative structure, striking visual imagery, and a provocative blend of surrealism, absurdity, and political commentary. Terayama employs a nonlinear approach to storytelling, incorporating dream-like sequences, surreal montages, and poetic symbolism to create a subversive and challenging cinematic experience. Throw Away Your Books, Rally in the Streets is renowned for its provocative and controversial themes, including critiques of authority, sexuality, and social conventions. Terayama uses Julian's journey as a metaphor for the disillusionment and rebellion of the youth during the tumultuous political and social climate of 1960s Japan. The film challenges traditional societal norms and encourages viewers to question established institutions and ideologies, while also delving into the complexities of human desire, identity, and freedom.