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Diary of a Mad Old Man

Play trailer Diary of a Mad Old Man 2026 1h 59m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 4 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Ratings
Diary of a Mad Old Man, directed by Wayne Wang, is a provocative and unflinching exploration of desire, power, and the complexities of aging. As an ailing patriarch becomes consumed by an increasingly obsessive fixation, the boundaries between control and vulnerability begin to erode, exposing the fragile tensions within his family and himself.

Critics Reviews

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Vadim Rizov Variety Sep 13, 2026
Consciously redirecting Tanizaki for new aims, the film makes thoughtful textual tweaks throughout, but the final product is counterintuitively dull. Go to Full Review Gregory Ellwood The Playlist Sep 22, 2026
C
The entire endeavor teases as much as Susu’s flirtations. And while you applaud the effort, the end simply feels like the whiplash from a bad hangover after an indulgent night Utsugi, Susu and the audience should have skipped. Go to Full Review Joonatan Itkonen Region Free Sep 22, 2026
4/5
Diary of a Mad Old Man is a demanding, mature exploration of love, sexuality, and connection. It is profoundly moving and intensely human. Go to Full Review Jared Mobarak Hey, Have You Seen ...? Sep 19, 2026
7/10
It's an invigorating journey possessed with as much sensuality as comedy. Fan is great as the unwitting muse, but it's Franky who shines as the source of paternal and romantic advances towards her. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Cast & Crew

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Wayne Wang

Director

Lily Franky

Actor

Fan Bingbing

Actor

Kelvin Wyles

Screenwriter

Shozo Ichiyama

Producer

Francey Grace

Producer
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Diary of a Mad Old Man

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Movie Info

Synopsis Diary of a Mad Old Man, directed by Wayne Wang, is a provocative and unflinching exploration of desire, power, and the complexities of aging. As an ailing patriarch becomes consumed by an increasingly obsessive fixation, the boundaries between control and vulnerability begin to erode, exposing the fragile tensions within his family and himself.
Director
Wayne Wang
Producer
Shozo Ichiyama, Francey Grace, Andrey Epifanov, Eleonora Granata-Jenkinson
Screenwriter
Kelvin Wyles
Production Co
Fourier Films, Cinetrain, Melograno Films
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Japanese
Runtime
1h 59m
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