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Written by: Takeshi Kitano
Directed by: Takeshi Kitano
Starring: Takeshi Kitano, Kayoko Kishimoto, Ren Osugi
Rated: NR [R]
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Plot
Nishi leaves the police in the face of harrowing personal and professional difficulties. Spiraling into depression, he makes questionable decisions.
Verdict
How do you find peace when your world is crumbling? Nishi was a good cop who must take risks to care for his sick wife. We see the search for peace through Nishi and his friend Horibe.
Watch it.
Review
This confused me at first as scenes aren't sequential. Instead this rearranges a few scenes for maximum effect. Due to this it was difficult to discern the the timeline until you realize when Nishi is wearing a blue suit and glasses it's probably present time.
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| Takeshi Kitano plays Nishi. |
Due to an investigation gone wrong and a sick wife Nishi loses his job as a cop and has to borrow money from the Yakuza to treat his wife. Nishi is violent and doesn't hesitate to attack anyone. I'm not sure if he's crazy, desperate, or both. He's facing an impossible situation, and ultimately I think he's just lashing out despite the risks attacking the Yakuza poses. While the movie doesn't explicitly state it, I'm guessing he was fired when he snapped and killed a suspect. I wonder why the Yakuza didn't come after him earlier due to his attacks.
I was surprised when Nishi beat up a guy at the lake in front of his wife. Nishi is violent, but with his wife he's always been gentler. I get why he would beat up the guy, justified or not, but didn't think it would happen in front of his wife. The movie isolates the violent and tender Nishi. It's the life he has to lead to beget the life he wants to lead with his wife.
Two stories unfold. Nishi is dealing with grief and sorrow, due to his wife and the case that went bad leading to injured and dead cops. Nishi decides that to pay his wife's bills and make amends he's going to rob a bank. Nishi's friend Horibe was paralyzed in the line of duty. Horibe is dealing with his situation, trying to find peace as well. He becomes an artist, funded by Nishi.
The paintings that appear throughout the movie were painted by writer/director Takeshi Kitano after his near-fatal motorcycle accident in 1994.
This is about finding peace. Horibe chooses art, Nishi chooses to enjoy his last moments with his wife, but the hurdle is coming up with the funds for her treatment. Nishi turns to extreme means not just for his wife, but for the police officers affected by the investigation gone wrong.
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