Adapted from the successful 1996 play by Koki Mitani, director Mamoru Hoshis Warai no Daigaku ( University of Laughs) left the audience roaring with laughter at its premiere at the Tokyo International Film Festival, & is sure to be a hit on the small screen thanks to its DVD release!
Set in pre-war Japan, the story centers on one mans hilarious struggle for artistic freedom as a humorless government censor ( Shall We Dance?s Koji Yakusho) tries to make a jittery playwright (Goro Inagaki) alter the farcical script hes developed for his Asakusa comedy troupe. As the two men work with & against each other, the script begins to change with unexpected results. Hailed for its laugh-out loud funny gags, Warai no Daigaku was also singled out by critics for its serious backdrop
- militaristic oppression in the face of impending war
- which was incorporated into the films final act. Complex, but still hilarious, Warai no Daigaku is one comedy unafraid to challenge its audience!