Before Patlabor , before Ghost in the Shell , and before he was known for his particular brand of philosophically minded anime, Mamoru Oshii released an utterly bizarre, wholly original science-fiction/neo-noir black comedy mashup called The Red Spectacles . A cat-and-mouse thriller if it had been directed by French New Wave-era Jean-Luc Godard and Robocop 's Paul Verhoeven, Oshii's early-career curio is both a serious reflection on the militarization of a surveillance state as much as it is a kooky screwball satire.

The Red Spectacles is shot almost entirely in rich black and white chiaroscuro. The 4K restoration, which just had its North American premiere at Beyond Fest in Los Angeles, is impeccable, accentuating cinematographer Yousuke Mamiya's harsh treatment of dar

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