Yoshimitsu Morita's 'Family Game' (aka 'Kazoku Game', 1983) R1 USA DVD August 28th 2006.

Another Geneon USA release of 80's Japanese Cinema, not something we've seen that much of on DVD, but with the announcement of the Kadokawa / IVL arrangement for R3 HK DVD releases (starting in August 2006) and these Geneon USA R1 USA DVDs there's certainly a whole load of them coming this year - there must be more that have sneaked out elsewhere, but they're not as obviously available as other decades' Cinema from Japan.

This time it's 'Family Game' from self-taught Director Yoshimitsu Morita, and his early work, 1983's award winning subversive black comedy-drama (and chosen by Japanese critics as the film of the year) about the then-current state of Japanese family life and how it works...I am sure this appears somewhere in the New York Times Top 1000 Movies book; I know that sounds a little too easy to get into, but there's loads more than 1000 movies out there, obviously.

Synopsis from Geneon USA says, "Having led a sheltered and pampered life at home, Shigeyuki Numata has been the underachieving, troubled teen slacker in his somewhat dysfunctional family, but he's about to get severely schooled when Yoshimoto, a hard-nosed tutor with his own unique brand of hands-on teaching, crashes into his life. With a renewed sense of purpose, Shigeyuki gets accepted into a reputable school, but Yoshimoto's job is not done yet, as he has one final shocking lesson to impart on the family that will tear everything apart! A remarkably stinging, dark satire that focuses on the social pressures of a traditional Japanese family, as well as its gradual disintegration, "Family Game" by Japanese veteran director Yoshimitsu Morita has garnered numerous awards and critical acclaim."

Article on Director Yoshimitsu Morita at Senses of Cinema (includes images of 'Famliy Game').
'Family Game' at Wikipedia, Mini Review at Time Out Film.