CANIBA (2017) presented by Lost in the Arthouse
September 26 : 5:30 pm – 7:15 pm
LOST IN THE ARTHOUSE is a monthly series hosted by Arkadin co-owner Keith Watson that takes you to hidden corners of filmdom far from Hollywood. From must-see classics to obscurities waiting to be discovered, these films stand at cinema’s bleeding edge.
“I had, so to speak, seen it all. And then I saw Caniba.” – John Semley, The Globe & Mail
A hugely controversial documentary from the pioneering filmmakers behind the also-incredible Leviathan, Caniba just might be the scariest movie ever made. It’s certainly one of the most intimate and unrelenting explorations of human depravity ever captured onscreen. Filmed primarily in intense close-ups that practically burrow into its subject’s flesh, Caniba is a portrait of the notorious criminal Issei Sagawa, who, as a 32-year-old student at the Sorbonne in Paris, murdered his Dutch classmate, Renée Hartevelt, and began eating her body. Sagawa was convicted of his crimes in France, but through some legal loopholes, he soon was allowed to return back to his home country of Japan where he lived for decades as a free man, making his living by writing novels, drawing manga, and appearing in innumerable documentaries and sexploitation films in which he reenacted his crime.
Directors Véréna Paravel and Lucien Castaing-Taylor explore the outer limits of human behavior through Sagawa’s mysterious relationship with his brother. In a twist reminiscent of Terry Zwigoff’s Crumb, it turns out Sagawa may not be the most disturbed person in his own family. Disturbing, darkly funny, and completely unforgettable, Caniba provides an uncomfortable intimacy with a man most would regard as a monster, one who has transgressed the fundamental taboo. The film refuses to provide easy judgments or simple resolutions, allowing us—or perhaps forcing us—to marinate in our own shared humanity.
Arkadin does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. However, we encourage researching titles to determine if a screening may contain content that could be upsetting to you. Please feel free to contact us for guidance on specific films. Information about content can also be found on Common Sense Media, IMDB and DoesTheDogDie.com, as well as through general internet searches.
Theater Policies
- All seats are first-come, first-served.
- The theater opens 30 minutes prior to showtime, except for “Happy Hour” events and pre-shows when the theater opens at the listed start time.
- When a screening is sold out, we open a waitlist 30 minutes before showtime. You must physically come to the lobby to get your name on the waitlist. Seats are released as they become available. All remaining seats are released at showtime.
- All ages are welcome at Arkadin except for Drinkolas Cage events, which are restricted to 21+. We follow the MPAA rating guidelines for all other films.
- Tickets can be purchased using the BUY TICKETS link above. Upon ordering, you will receive a confirmation email from Square. Tickets may also be purchased on the day of the show at the concession counter.
- If you’ve purchased advance tickets, when you arrive, please give your name at the concession counter to check in.
- Tickets are returnable by sending a request through the contact form located on our About Us page prior to showtime.
- When an event is sold out, we reserve the right to release open seats to customers on the waitlist. If you have a pre-purchased ticket and arrive late and there is no seat for you, your ticket will be refunded.
- All screenings are held in our indoor theater unless indicated otherwise in the event description above.
- Please respect your fellow movie-goers by remaining quiet and refraining from using your cell phone throughout the screening.