Hell Bento is a fascinating and entertaining exploration of subcultures in Japan. A bento box is a Japanese lunch box divided into several compartments each containing a different kind of food. Anna Broinowski’s documentary is likewise divided into different aspects of Japanese culture, but this is the underbelly, the invisible parts of an ancient conservative culture. You’ll see Japan differently after spending some time with it’s gay and lesbian community, 50s rock and roll girlie band, geisha pop-star, S&M fetishists, bikers, Yakuza gangsters, techno artists and homeless subway vagrants. Voted Most Popular Australian Documentary at the 1995 Sydney Film Festival. In English and Japanese with English subtitles.
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How to watch
Collection
In ACMI's collection
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
307763
Language
Japanese
Audience classification
MA
Subject categories
Anthropology, Ethnology, Exploration & Travel → Geishas - Japan
Anthropology, Ethnology, Exploration & Travel → Japan
Anthropology, Ethnology, Exploration & Travel → Women - Japan
Crafts & Visual Arts → Art, Modern - 20th Century - Japan
Crafts & Visual Arts → Artists - Japan
Documentary → Documentary films - Australia
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Geishas - Japan
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Japan - Social conditions
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Women - Japan
Family, Gender Identity, Relationships & Sexuality → Gay and lesbian studies
Family, Gender Identity, Relationships & Sexuality → Women - Japan
History → Japan - Civilization - American influences
Sound/audio
Sound
Colour
Colour
Holdings
VHS; Access Print (Section 1)