This review may contain spoilers
Stunning movie with an alternative angle on the Yakuza world.
[Light synopsis spoilers in the final paragraph]The first in what would be come a long running series of theatrical and later video releases. It's easy to see why this film was a big hit.
The film is utterly stunning and carefully filmed. I'm don't usually think about camera angles and settings when watching movies but this film used such interesting and picturesque framing again and again I couldn't not notice. One scene in particular with two leads talking alone on a boat all filmed in one shot with no cuts as the scenery passes behind them through the window was utterly breathtaking and the angle really created this sense of intimacy and tension. I could go on and on about the use of interesting framing from the hair salon mirror framing the reflections of actors speaking to the scene in front of a giant aquarium tank backdrop.
The acting was incredible and the lead actress Iwashita Shima absolutely dominated the movie. She had this captivating aura and fantastic wardrobe and I found myself hanging off every word. and in every scene she was in. Rino Katase who plays her sister also did really well, especially as I've read she was rather nervous filming this role next to Iwashita. Everyone was convincing in their roles.
The story for the most part was very good. It managed to capture an alluring side to the criminal world but also deeply rooted in a sense of realism that it is gritty, violenct and death happens. I thought it was an interesting take to see the side from the wives point of view, many with husbands in jail or just trying their best to support them. I also liked the choice to not show alot of the happenings between the men and keep it as exposition and keep the focus around the women and what they are doing while the story is happening.
[Light spoilers already in the synopsis]
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I'd rate the film higher but without saying too much, I just could not get on board with the relationship between the younger sister and her love interest which is outlined in the synopsis which I won't go over here. I just could not swallow the plausibility or buy her devotion to him after what he did to her. Suspending my disbelief for the rest of the movie and just going along with it and the film is brilliant but even as the credits rolled I just couldn't forget the problematic way their relationship started. Shame really because this could have easily been dealt with in a more convincing and different way and still had the same storyline. I would have much preferred a sort of star crossed lovers scenario which would have still given the same results.
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