In the retrospective article I wrote to open this year's festival, I mentioned how I had grown disillusioned with the mainstream American movie industry. Hollywood's appalling refusal to push the boundaries of the medium, coupled with its inability to create anything even remotely novel, is what has lead me to seek out alternative avenues of cinema like the Philadelphia Film Festival. Japanese director Yukihiko Tsutsumi's latest feature, 2LDK, reminds me just why I love film so much, and why film is such a valuable form of art in our society. 2LDK is precisely the type of film that mainstream audiences will never get to see, at least in this country, as it embodies all of the qualities that cutting-edge cinema should have.

To start, 2LDK is a Japanese designation used to describe an apartment that contains 2 bedrooms, a living room, a dining room and a kitchen. (Just perform a Google search for "2LDK" and you'll find actual Japanese apartment listings instead of information concerning the film.) This relatively simple film takes place entirely within the confines of one set, the apartment itself. In addition, the film contains only two characters, roommates Lana (Maho Nonami) and Kimi (Eiko Koike). Director Yukihiko Tsutsumi made 2LDK as part of a cinematic duel between himself and Ryuhei Kitamura, who responded with the film Aragami. Since a review of that film is forthcoming I can't say who won this duel just yet, but suffice it say that 2LDK more than holds its own.

The film begins with cute small-town girl Kimi returning home to the apartment from a long day at work. She is quickly joined by Lana, her glamourous big-city roommate. Though they share the apartment it is clear that they are not paying for it, as it appears to be a part of some government subsidized deal. At first they seem like good friends and act very civilly towards each other, just like good roommates should. It is soon revealed, however, that they are both aspiring young actresses vying for the same lead role in an upcoming yakuza film. Determined to win the role, both Lana and Kimi begin a campaign of psychological warfare in an attempt to unnerve the other. The jests start out tame and subtle as both Kimi and Lana try to retain the upper hand.

The insanity begins with each girl growing weary of the other's relatively innocuous character foibles, such as Kimi's anally-retentive habit of labeling each food item in the refrigerator. From here the girls chastise each other for using certain possessions (like perfume or a hair dryer) without permission. Somewhere in the middle of all this petty squabbling we learn that both Kimi and Lana are interested in the same guy, making their verbal daggers all the more pointed. The intensity of their exchanges continues to escalate until the girls have it out in an old-fashioned face-slapping catfight. After some phony apologies, Kimi offers to give Lana a massage — using the oil from Lana's padded bra! If that makes you gasp, then hold on to your monocles for what happens next.

Living in close proximity has enabled both girls to learn the achilles heal of the other. For instance, Kimi douses Lana's bedroom full of prized beauty trophies with a liberal splattering of ketchup. Ouch. Their crazed antics continue to increase in both creativity and carnage potential, until they're literally killing each other with chainsaws, samurai swords, beauty trophies, an electrified bath tub and even the lid from the toilet tank. And you thought your roommate was a nightmare. With all restraint gone, the last half hour of the film is filled with almost non-stop violence as the roommates attempt to land the killing blow. A suitably outrageous, ironic ending brings this extremely entertaining little film to a close.

2LDK is one of the blackest comedies you could ever hope to see, driven by sharp writing and downright cruel punchlines. During its short seventy-minute running time, director Tsutsumi still finds time for deep characterization that enables the humor and violence to make much more of an emotional impact. The first half of the film is strictly concerned with establishing the traits, quirks, motives and backgrounds of both Lana and Kimi; when Kimi trashes Lana's beauty trophies, you know it's the most personal attack she can deliver. And indeed, these two characters are more developed and three-dimensional than any you will see at the local megaplex. Even the apartment itself is fully fleshed-out, as the audience can instantly recognize where the action is taking place.

Casting is crucial to a film with only two characters, and luckily 2LDK nails it right on the head. Both Maho Nonami and Eiko Koike are fantastic in their roles as dueling roommates and are an absolute joy to watch. Their placid delivery of oh-so-cruel personal barbs, coupled with effective physical comedy, drive this film forward and keep it humorous even during ridiculous acts of violence. These lovely actresses are aided by a tight script that brings out the full spectrum of each character's personality. Early scenes depict Lana and Kimi calmly paying one another a compliment, then immediately switching to an inner monologue that tells a stinging personal joke. It's a simple and effective way to establish both a civil outer facade and the true inner feelings of both girls. And it's extremely funny to boot.

I enjoyed 2LDK for exactly the same reasons that I abhor most commercial films: it is inventive, devilishly funny, humorously violent, and takes a familiar concept and twists it until you are gasping in disbelief. The true value of film comes from providing alternate worlds where unreal concepts can safely be explored, a characteristic that 2LDK takes to the nth degree. Though it is extremely violent, the carnage in 2LDK is so outrageous and over-the-top that it becomes a cartoon-ish parody that should elicit a chuckle from all but the most prudish of prudes. It should also serve as a pointed, if not entirely realistic, anecdote on contemporary roommate conflicts that will have sympathizers cheering. 2LDK is quite simply a fantastic film that should not be missed. It earns my highest recommendation.

Thumbs Up. 2LDK is a wickedly funny black comedy loaded with sharp writing, cruel humor and outrageous violence. I love this film.