The Reading Machine

The Reading Machine — Plot

In this Borgesian satire on knowledge and technology, bibliophilic desire leads to the construction of a pedal-powered reading machine. Resembling a combination of gymnastic contraption, printing press and early cinematic apparatus, the machine’s purpose remains ambiguous. And like this machine, Terayama’s film connects his work in poetry, motion picture and graphic design by weaving together printed and projected, still and moving images.

• Release date
• December 11, 1977
• Runtime
• 22 min
• Director
• Shūji Terayama

The Reading Machine — Cast

M

Momo Yaguchi Takeshi Wakamatsu Keiko Niitaka

T

Toshihiko Hino