The Ceremony (1971) - Nagisa Oshima 

Long near the top of my to look for list I just got ahold of a rather good looking print courtesy of the now defunct Japanese New Wave company. Confusing at parts and centering around numerous cermonies and functions particularly funerals but with the occasional wedding thrown in the mix. The story is told almost entirely through flashbacks but has some small level of continuity as it leads up to the most recent funeral a suicide that may finally put the finishing touches on a once greatly important Japanese family relocated to Manchuria. The film is reportedly much better appreciated and understood if you know a lot about contemporary Japanese history and since I don't much of it is lost on me. This could also explain why the film has remained out of print pretty much forever in this country. Certainly part of Oshima's great period and one of his last Japanese films before making the international transition with In the Realm of the Senses. Certainly subversive and highly critical of most 20th century politics and even the national obsession with baseball. There's a lot to get out of this film but I don't think I was able to adequately understand/appreciate it on one viewing. If anyone has any well written/researched analysis of the film handy let me know I'd love to read it.