The Witches of the Orient

How did a group of humble factory workers become a phenomenal sports success story and the pride of an entire nation? Julian Faraut’s (John McEnroe: In The Realm of Perfection) ferociously innovative and visually stunning The Witches of the Orient tells the tale of the Japanese women’s volleyball team’s thrilling rise, unbelievable 258 games winning streak, and eventual Olympic gold at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Chasing absolute perfection under the guidance of their grueling coach Hirofumi “the Demon,” Daimatsu, the team eventually strike fear in the hearts of their competitors, earning them the racist and dismissive moniker “oriental witches.” Faraut’s sparkling documentary uses fantastic anime sequences, such as Attack no 1 (1968), with archival footage of blood-curdling matches, intense training sessions (driven by rhythmic editing and great music from French musician K-Raw) with testimony from the now-octogenarian teammates. The result charts the Witches’ meteoric rise without losing their overwhelmingly vital spirit.