Oh, so I’ve actually seen Penance, which is a 5 part miniseries and it looks like what’s happening there is that the interface doesn’t handle that well. These are both episodes in that, so wrapping them in the same description is fine-ish. Now… the way it also maybe didn’t pull up the other 3 for you is another problem, haha. And obviously it didn’t make that very clear!
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Oh yeah, there is zero explanation of that. It 100% looks like they just messed up and gave a bunch of different films the same description 
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Seems like we’ve covered what most people wanted to say, so, nominations are live! Clubs usually do Fridays so I’ll default to that and let this first set come in until this Friday (the 14th). From there we’ll set up a poll and figure out all those details. We’ll be doing polls every 2 weeks so nominations will be basically permanently open if you don’t get the chance to get your movie in for the initial one.
I put up a template, please use that when suggesting films. It’s a lot slimmer than book clubs use because there’s just less needed – feels like the difficulty estimates don’t really work either since we can’t judge by previewing pages the way others can. If someone hasn’t seen it, all you can do is guess based on subject matter. Sometimes there’s Natively as well, I’ll include that in the tools I’m working on putting in the main post. I initially had an availability section too but realized even using Justwatch they have a seperate page for every region, so the best thing I can do is just give people tools in the main post (which is still heavily under construction) and let them find this stuff themselves. With a global site, it’s no real use. Excited to see what people come up with; I’ll post my own later!
Let me know if I messed up or forgot anything already, haha. I’m also starting to add resources and some streaming services I think are decent sources – not going to be able to be exhaustive but hopefully it helps someone. I’ll add more later; feel free to make suggestions if you have them!
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What about this?
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Yes, thank you! Reminded me I said I was gonna put natively there too.
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勝手にふるえてろ / Tremble All You Want
Length: 1h57
(Rough) Genre: Absurd romance
IMDB Link: Tremble All You Want (2017) — The Movie Database (TMDB)
Trailer Link (if possible): 松岡茉優が歌う！泣く！叫ぶ！映画『勝手にふるえてろ』予告映像 - YouTube
Known content warnings: None that I recall
JustWatch link: 勝手にふるえてろ 映画 動画配信 オンライン 視聴
Summary
A woman who has an obsession with a boy she liked from school is confessed to by a coworker around the same time she manages to meet her longtime crush again. She’s kinda nuts. It’s a lot of fun. Watch the trailer and that’s the vibe of the movie.
Personal Opinion
I watched about half of this but it got to an awkward scene and I struggle with awkward scenes but maybe watching it with others / having the pressure to finish it would help. It was an absolute riot to watch up til then though, if you enjoy absurd comedy I recommend it.
I will say that I was watching it with JP subs and there is no way I could have kept up without them because the main character likes to talk at high speed about complete non-sequiturs so context will do nothing to save you. It’s on viki though so I imagine there are English and other language subs available for those who’d like those.
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TMDB, interesting. I’m aware of it but haven’t really looked at it. I usually just look at things on Letterboxd honestly, but that’s kinda particular to people with an account there so I figured asking for IMDB would be the more familiar, comfortable thing for people to get info. Hmm. Doesn’t make much difference to me but I’m just thinking what’s better to ask for. Seems like either is pretty sufficient though, shrug.
I haven’t even heard of this movie, interesting!
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Ah, tell me about it. I have to pause so I can facepalm, and then I get distracted by something else while I’m paused, and the movie never gets finished.
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I kind of glossed over that saying IMDB 
But TMDB tends to have a better database for Japanese films. I’ve definitely watched things I could find on TMDB but not IMDB
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ラジオの時間 / Welcome Back, Mr. McDonald
Length: 1h43m
(Rough) Genre: Comedy
IMDB Link: Welcome Back, Mr. McDonald (1997) - IMDb
Trailer Link (if possible): Tráiler de "Welcome Back, Mr. McDonald" (1997), de Kôki Mitani - YouTube
Known content warnings: None that I recall
Summary
Just before the live airing of a radio play, an actress decides to change the name of her character. This cascades into a battle of egos by all involved that causes continual script changes while the play is on-air live.
Personal Opinion
Figured I’d start off light and fun, if people are in the mood for it. I’ve seen this one before and find it really amusing – it’s borderline single location, ramping absurdity as people struggle to put on a radio drama while the details constantly change. Relatively modern day, fairly straightforward professional Japanese (IIRC), and with a decent bit of the dialog being in-universe voice acting the audio is usually fairly clear. JP subs may unfortunately be hard to find, but the whole thing is on Youtube with English subs (that can be turned off) so it’s very accessible.
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プラチナデータ / Platinum Data
Length: 2h13
(Rough) Genre: Sci-fi crime thriller
TMDB Link: Platinum Data (2013) — The Movie Database (TMDB)
Trailer Link (if possible): プラチナデータ 予告編 - YouTube
Known content warnings: Only one I recall was murder (not a spoiler, see main plot). No particularly graphic scenes iirc, but there is blood and corpses.
JustWatch link: プラチナデータ 映画 動画配信 オンライン 視聴
Summary
A man creates a system that can with 100% certainty build a profile of a suspect and solve crimes. However, there is a murder and the DNA points to him as the suspect and he goes on the run
Personal Opinion
I watched this a year or two ago and it was the first Japanese movie I watched without any Japanese subs and felt I could understand without much trouble (note: I read on a ton of crime fiction, ymmv). It’s a pretty standard thriller, so it’s not going to wow you, but it’s a fun watch and the pacing is good. It’s based on a book by 東野圭吾 so if you like his character styles and plots, you’ll probably enjoy it.
It’s not available for streaming in that many places right now, but I happen to have access to it (with English subs as well) so if the watch party route is taken I can help out 
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I nominate Galaxy Express 999.
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Hey, sorry, following the usual club standards here there’s a template in the top post for nominations, to make it easier for people to get info on the movies when they’re voting and give you a chance to sell us on it a bit and whatnot. I’m interested to see it so if you get the chance you should definitely submit it with that stuff!
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You should probably use the nomination format, but I can’t believe you somehow nominated one of the very few Japanese movie DVDs I own and brought with me. Although I might be confusing it with Adieu Galaxy Express 999, but I think I have both 
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seems like fun! i’m not much of a movie watcher myself but classic Japanese films do peak my interest from time to time. also, don’t count out youtube and vimeo for watching full movies.
as for nominations, the original Hachiko movie is a classic. I’ve watched The Family Game before and that was a wild ride, i’d recommend it
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タンポポ・Tampopo
Length: 1h55m
Genre: Noodle Western
TMDB Link: Tampopo (1985) - Trailers & Videos — The Movie Database (TMDB)
Trailer Link: Play 186016844 on Vimeo
Known content warnings: Death, Consuming Raw Food
Summary
In this humorous paean to the joys of food, a pair of truck drivers happen onto a decrepit roadside shop selling ramen noodles. The widowed owner, Tampopo, begs them to help her turn her establishment into a paragon of the “art of noodle-soup making”. Interspersed are satirical vignettes about the importance of food to different aspects of human life.
Personal Opinion
Discovered this movie, during the last listening challenge, searching through The Criterion Collection for Japanese directors. Not exactly sure how many times I’ve watched it since. A new favorite of mine, I’ll be re-analyzing this one for awhile.
I find it hilarious. Cried laughing the first time I watched it. It does have dark humor at times though. Or maybe so dark that some people I’ve viewed it with failed to grasp that comedy was present whatsoever. Maybe it was the Japanese w/ Eng subs that failed them?
I’d love to hear what fellow Japanese learners get out of it.
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What? Do they have no sense of humor? I’m seconding this nomination though. I was hoping someone would make it before I got to it, so thank you
Idk if sensual food eating should be a content warning? Some people seem to have an aversion, particularly to the scenes with runny/slimy foods
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They’re great! Thought I’d ease in with something fun and light but I definitely have to get us watching Ozu or Mizoguchi or something sometime. Agreed on Youtube and Vimeo, good call, in fact my nomination this time happened to be on Youtube!
Appreciate the recommendations – if they’re just that, all good! If you want to actually have them included for voting, clubs here usually have a template for giving some more detailed info when suggesting a pick, and I’ve included that in the top post.
I’ve been really wanting to watch this; I’m almost certain where one of my votes will be going now. Great pick.
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Yeah, I really just didn’t know how to word it. I nearly just edited and added sensual food eating.
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I’ll stop here I think Don’t want to swamp the nominations.
カタクリ家の幸福 / The Happiness of the Katakuris
Length: 1h53
(Rough) Genre: Dark comedy musical
TMDB Link: The Happiness of the Katakuris (2002) — The Movie Database (TMDB).
Trailer Link (if possible): The Happiness of the Katakuris (2001) - Trailer (HQ) - YouTube
Known content warnings: Some gross stop animation in the beginning iirc, lots of campy death scenes, at least one nongraphic sex scene.
JustWatch link: The Happiness of the Katakuris streaming online
Summary
A family trying to run a bed and breakfast keeps running into problems with guests dying. Naturally the solution to avoid bad press is to hide the bodies.
Personal Opinion
I’ve seen this movie twice and loved it both times and would happily watch it again. Takashi Miike is also a pretty well known director so maybe that name recognition will catch some interest. It seems to be readily available on multiple platforms. If you like dark humor this is a fantastic watch.
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