God Speed You! Black Emperor is an awesome Japanese motorcycle documentary - Full Version

God Speed You! Black Emperor is a classic movie about a Bosozoku (literally violent young tribe) from Japan called the Black Emperors. The bosozoku have a deep love for customizing their motorcycles, often straying past the point of legality and even practicality.

Made in 1976, the film is in black and white, shot in 16mm, but it's got motorcycles in it and it's about Japan. What's not to love?

The Black Emperors were a famed Tokyo gang from the seventies and the movie itself follows one particular member of the gang and the trouble he gets into with his parents and police.

While it does feel very dated now, it's a great insight to a subculture and Japanese culture in particular and makes some entertaining viewing, and even inspired a Montreal based music group to adopt the name.

More on Bosozoku at Wikipedia