This “Limited Edition” Blu-ray from Radiance Films will be available from most retailers on February 25th.
If you’re familiar with Japanese cinema, then you have no doubt heard of writer/director Kinji Fukasaku. He worked in a variety of genres from the early 1960s right until his death in 2003 from cancer. Credited as director of over 70 titles during his lifetime, it has taken decades for these films to be released in North America. But whenever they do come out, most viewers are overwhelmed by how energetic and effective many of them are. Over the past few years, distributors like Radiance Films, Arrow Video and others have been trying to rectify this situation and get more of his features out on Blu-ray.
Radiance Films is putting out another great effort this week. Hokuriku Proxy War is a striking Yakuza film that really stands out among many of its ilk. By this period in his career, Fukasaku had become an expert at making gangster pictures, starting with Sympathy for the Underdog and moving into the Battles Without Honor and Humanity series. Hokuriku Proxy War is another standout.
It is an incredibly brutal and nasty tale that is based on a true story. The movie also makes an impression because of its unique locations. It was shot on the west coast of Japan during the winter with massive snow drifts all over the village locations. The look of the picture, the dynamic action and the charismatic performances make it particularly memorable. Radiance Films has once again delivered an impressive transfer (from a 4K picture restoration that was provided to the them by the Toei Company) and put some fascinating extras that go behind the scenes and explain the even crazier story of how this film was made and the shocking events that transpired in the Yakuza world after its release.
As mentioned, the story takes place on the west coast of Japan and deals with the various Yakuza groups fighting for territory in the Fukui region. This story follows poor-man-turned-small-time-Yakuza-leader Kawada Noboru (Hiroki Matsukata), a charismatic but blunt and brutal gang leader. He is promised control of security (a very profitable gig) during the region’s annual boat race by the bigger and higher-ranking Yakuza boss Mr. Yasuhara (Ko Nishimura), but is then brushed aside. Furious, Kawada seeks retribution on the man who overlooked him.
His violent reaction gets other, larger Yakuza gangs involved in the dispute, including the duplicitous Manitani (Hana Hajime) who wants control of Kawada’s interests. This draws the attention of major Yakuza bosses from Osaka, including Kanai (Sonny Chiba). Most find Kawada a threat and want him dead, leading to a brutal assassination attempt. But, as the story progresses, they end up being impressed by the figure, who convinces every leader at one point or another to back him in this complicated proxy war. It eventually becomes clear that Kawada is more than willing to use everyone around him, playing them off of each other so that he might achieve his ultimate goal.
The violence in this picture is particularly brutal. Even though Kawada is the main character, he is clearly in over his head. The character is brutally attacked on several occasions and is so desperate at times that viewers often feel like he will be slain at any moment. Matsukata is incredibly charismatic in the lead role. He’s not a nice guy, but does treat his own small gang with respect while speaking plainly and insultingly to those who try to threaten him. It’s exciting to see a high-ranking Yakuza member try to threaten Kawada and dare him to attack them, only to see Kawada slice him up in front of a crowd.
Fukasaku films the confrontations in a thrilling manner, slowly building tension as gang members cross paths and initially plot and stare at each other. When violence erupts, it’s very fast. Limbs are chopped off and other nastiness is witnessed. The camera bolts and jumps around as chaos surrounds the characters. There is an incredible gunfight in a diner that leads to a showdown with samurai swords outside in the woods, as well as several snowbound events that aren’t easy to forget. A couple of particularly memorable bits include using two bulldozer cranes to crush the passengers in an enemy car. Additionally, Kawada buries several gangsters in the snow up to their necks, and then has one of his men race and slide around their heads in a vehicle (to devastating results).
There are a couple of female siblings who are also quite interesting. Kiku (Yumiko Nogawa) is a bar owner who attempts to use all the characters to help herself, switching loyalties from gangster to gangster, while her sister Nobuko (Yoko Takahashi) stays true to Kawada. It’s interesting to see these ladies have to make hard choices as they are put in danger. The movie also presents the social politics within the Yakuza in ways that this reviewer had never even considered. Every gang leader is trying to get ahead, often stabbing each other in the back even though they’re all members of the same general organization.
It’s a cruel and nasty movie, but one that is really compelling and moves like a bullet. Fukasaku was really firing on all cylinders here and delivers one of the most unique and thrilling Yakuza pictures of the era. The transfer is really good and viewers will feel like they’re out in the icy winter with the characters. A lot of the exterior scenes look incredible and the picture quality is strong overall. I was completely captivated by the film from beginning to end. Alas, it would be the director’s last effort featuring this subject matter for a shocking reason that is explained in the supplemental materials.
The informative extras include an interview with cast member Yoko Takahashi, who reminisces about her time on the set. She mostly describes working with Fukasaku, whom she calls charming and really fun to work with. The performer also talks about what she tried to bring to her role. It’s an interesting conversation.
Second is a discussion with the screenwriter Kōji Takada. He discusses his friendship with the director and their working relationship on several projects. He does note some of the ideas he had that were not accepted by Fukasaku (including focusing even more time on the female characters) and explains some of the things he learned about the Yakuza from this area. It’s another engaging interview.
But the final one is the best by far. An expert on this film and the Yakuza discusses in detail how the project came together. It seems that this was a period in which gangster films were incredibly popular, and most were based on real figures and stories. Fukasaku indeed spent a lot of time with the real individual whom the story was based on, using the gangster’s experiences and even recreating some of his hangouts for the film. Fukasaku even shot an exterior at the leader’s favorite diner and built a set that was identical to the interior for a gunfight. Lead actor Hiroki Matsukata hung out with the figure, adopting the mobster’s tics for his performance, including his propensity to sway whenever he was becoming incensed.
As noted, this was the last Yakuza film that Fukasaku participated in. This is because, shortly after the movie’s release, real Yakuza members hunted down the actual gangster and murdered him. It was done at his favorite diner in a manner similar to the scene in the story. Yes, it seems that life actually ended up imitating art. Fukasaku was horrified and decided not to make any more movies based on the Yakuza world, and studios soon stopped doing the same thing. The expert also goes on to note how nasty the movie was and that it wasn’t a big hit during its initial release, but has since gained a cult following. The information presented in this featurette is quite remarkable.
Hokuriku Proxy War is a wild and memorable Yakuza picture thanks to the great performances and impressively staged action by the director. The characters are memorable and the movie delves deeply into the politics within the Yakuza. I was very impressed with the picture, as well as the picture quality and revealing extras about the production. Radiance Films has put out another stellar “Limited Edition” Blu-ray that should impress any world cinema enthusiast.