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What's After the Movie?
Short film

The Reading Machine (1977): Cast

The Reading Machine (1977) movie poster

The Reading Machine is a 1977 short film directed by Shūji Terayama, starring Keiko Niitaka, Takeshi Wakamatsu and Toshihiko Hino. It runs 22 minutes.

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The Reading Machine (1977) movie poster
Released
Runtime
22 min
Director
Shūji Terayama
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Reading Machine About?

The premise of The Reading Machine without spoilers.

The film satirizes knowledge and technology in a Borgesian vein, following a bibliophile’s obsession that inspires the creation of a pedal‑powered reading machine. The contraption blends gymnastic equipment, a printing press and early cinema gear, leaving its function deliberately vague. As the machine does, Terayama links poetry, film and graphic design, intertwining printed and projected, still and moving images.

The Reading Machine Themes & Keywords

· 8 tags
  • book
  • intertitle
  • surrealism
  • female nudity
  • nudity
  • avant garde short
  • experimental short
  • independent short
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Cast & crew

The Reading Machine Cast

Keiko Niitaka leads the cast, with Takeshi Wakamatsu and Toshihiko Hino. Directed by Shūji Terayama; 4 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Shūji Terayama

More films directed by Shūji Terayama: Farewell to the Ark, The Lemmings, Fruits of Passion and Private Collections.

Full filmography

Seen The Reading Machine?

FAQ

The Reading Machine FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Reading Machine, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Reading Machine?

The Reading Machine runs 22 minutes.

When was The Reading Machine released?

The Reading Machine was released on December 11, 1977.

Who directed The Reading Machine?

The Reading Machine was directed by Shūji Terayama.

More films by Shūji Terayama

Who is in the cast of The Reading Machine?

The Reading Machine stars Keiko Niitaka, Takeshi Wakamatsu and Toshihiko Hino, among 4 credited actors.

Does The Reading Machine have a post-credit scene?

No. The Reading Machine has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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