Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on February 2013

This work, which re-interprets Shakespeare’s The Tempest by mixing in Japanese legend, folklore, Buddhist parable and a good dose of Papillon, is the latest frothy brew from director John Williams.

For those who don’t know, Williams is our resident British auteur filmmaker, managing to create interesting feature films here, in Japanese, despite little support from the industry. His work Firefly Dreams (2001) is a sweet meditation on youth, while Starfish Hotel (2006) comes across as a compelling and creepy thriller.

For Sado Tempest, Williams uses a mythological backdrop of the return of a Japanese poet-ruler from the 13th century who was exiled to Sado Island for a coup attempt. Set 30 years in the future, a fiery, anti-establishment rock band is drugged and whisked off to captivity on the barren and desolate rocky isle of Sado, which is being used as a prison. There the leader, à la Steve McQueen, must battle sadistic prison guards, dance with demons, romance a half-crazed songstress daughter of the isle (yes, Miranda) and discover the tune of the island to bring spring back and free the captive poet-ruler.

Yes, it is as crazy and rock ’n’ roll as it sounds. Parts are brilliant, parts are a tad melodramatic, but it is all refreshingly original.

• In Japanese with English subtitles; 94 min
• More on Sado Tempest here