Customer Ratings & Reviews

Masahiro Shinoda creates a gangster romance that has no equal in the Japanese cinema. Haunting and beautiful, in this movie a gambling addict falls in love with Saeko, who is played by Mariko Kaga. The two eventually go down a path of mutual destruction culminating in unforgeatable finale. The only drawback to the package that Criterion Colelction has put together with this is the price considering the higher tier pricing with little extras. I would suggest getting it while on sale

Such a stylistic presentation of an allegorical Japan, this time through a very familiar plot device--the gangster and the femme fatale. It's not film noir with strict adherence to that genre--instead, the director fuses it with a Japanese sensibility that just works. The opening shot--wow! No wonder Stanley Kubrick was influenced by this film--That entire scene, from the slow-mo effects, the doors opening, looking through the window, and the music, all ended up in The Shining. This film is just wonderful and so stylish! This could have been made in 2013 and not be out of place.