Film Lens
A is a 1998 Japanese documentary that examines the Aum Shinrikyo cult following the arrest of its leaders for the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway. The film centers on Hiroshi Araki, a 28-year-old spokesman for the cult who has cut ties with his family and rejected materialism. Director Tatsuya Mori gained exclusive access to Aum's offices for over a year, providing a unique perspective on the inner workings of the cult while the media was kept at bay.
Despite its insightful look into Aum's dynamics, the documentary did not achieve financial success. Mori later released a sequel titled A2 in 2001, which revisits Araki and covers the competing factions within the sect, now renamed Aleph, during the trial of their leader Shoko Asahara and his associates.
Why Watch
- •Meet Hiroshi Araki, a key figure in Aum Shinrikyo.
- •Find out about Aum's internal dynamics from exclusive access.
- •See the aftermath of the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack.
Did You Know
•The film features Hiroshi Araki, a 28-year-old spokesman for Aum.
•Director Tatsuya Mori had exclusive access to Aum's offices for over a year.
•The documentary was released in 1998, three years after the Tokyo subway attack.
•Mori released a sequel, A2, in 2001, focusing on Araki and Aleph.
Perfect For
Cult studiesJapanese historyTrue crime enthusiasts