Why don't you play in Hell (5 Stars)

Here is a public service announcement: Projectionists should never smoke while they're working. Film is highly flammable, and the smallest spark could set the whole cinema on fire. Thank you for your attention.

In my preliminary list of my favourite 50 films I have four films directed by Sion Sono. This film isn't one of them. Maybe it should be included, but what do I kick out? My brain hurts. Today is only the second time I've watched it, so I can be excused for forgetting how good it is.

There's something that Sion Sono does in most of his films. He bases his films on real events, on true stories, but he only begins the films with the truth. The films progress in different directions, leading to exaggerated scenes of mayhem. "Why don't you play in Hell" is based on Sion Sono's own life, and he even recreates scenes from his own youth.

As a teenager Hirata had a dream. He wanted to be remembered for one great film. He didn't want to become a prolific director making a mixture of good and bad films over a long career. Hirata only wanted to make one film, and if he should die making it it didn't matter as long as the film would be remembered forever.

Childhood dreams can be beautiful, but as time passes reality can be harsh. Ten years later Hirata still hasn't made his great film. All he has to his name is a collection of short films which he watches over and over again with his friends.

Just when he's given up Hirata is approached and asked to make the film which will be his masterpiece. After years of peace the Muto Clan is planning to attack the Ikegami Clan. Hirata persuades the leaders of both clans to allow him to set up his cameras to film them as they battle to the death.

The film has all the makings of an epic. There are various different plots that all run together in the final half hour. Hirata wants to make his great film. Muto wants his daughter Mitsuko to star in a film that he can show his wife when she's released from prison. Ikegami has been obsessed with Mitsuko for years. Everything links up in one of the biggest bloodbaths ever shown in a film. But don't forget that it's all about the magic of cinema. Everyone who appears in a film is immortal and will never die, and the same is true of film creators.