Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #33512 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-10-24
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Formats: PAL, Widescreen
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 140 minutes

DVD Description
Based on the true story of Iwao Enokizu (Ken Ogata) and his murderous rampage which sparked a 78-day nationwide manhunt, Shohei Imamura's disturbing gem Vengeance is Mine won every major award in Japan on the year of its release. Both seducing and repelling with its unusual story and grisly humour, Imamura uncovers a seedy underbelly of civilised Japanese society.

Special Features
Newly restored high definition transfer • Full-length audio commentary by Tony Rayns • Video introduction by Alex Cox • Optional English subtitles • Production stills gallery • 32-page booklet with reprints of original promotional material and a new essay by midnighteye.com's Jasper Sharp.

Synopsis
Japanese society is thrown into chaos as an elusive labourer embarks on a rampage of rape and murder. Based on the true story of Iwao Enokizu.

Customer Reviews

Imamura's Finest
I saw this film recently on a Hong Kong Region 3 DVD. It is simply terrific. For once we get a fleshed out, plausible serial-killer to contemplate. The direction is taut and the acting is first-rate. I actually think Imamura is an overrated director (I didn't care much for 'The Eel' and 'Ballad of Narayama' is good but not great). But if he had made more films of this standard he would truly deserve a place amongst the first rank of film directors. The Eureka Masters of Cinema series is terrific and so I intend to upgrade to their edition very soon.

IMAMURA'S FINEST FILM
This is a great film and undoubtedly Imamura's best. The cinematography, characterisations and intricate plot development are all superb. For those who know his later films, look out for a number of themes and tropes that he recycled, with a more surrealistic treatment, in 'The Eel'. While I liked the latter, it lacks the seriousness and sharpness of 'Vengeance is Mine'. 'Vengeance' has all the sheer impact of a Takashi Miike film such as 'Audition', while maintaining Imamura's well-known early scrupulous attention to detail and documentary style. Having been extremely disappionted by the insipid 'Roberto Succo', Imamura's serial killer Iwao combined the almot pathetic banality of Kieslowki's boy from 'A Short Film about Killing' with the blank menace of Kiyoshi Kurasawa's stranger in 'Cure'. Full marks all round, the best film I have seen in ages!

Vengence?
I was really disappointed in this film, having seen many recommendations. I think that the main problem was that the directors "masterful attention to detail" meant that some bits went so slowly that it became maddening. These lacunas were rarely relieved by anything but views of grey/brown interiors. Despite some attempt to bring in background, I never came to see the really nasty central character as anything but randomly horrible. The police were just a homogenous blur of grey suits. Only the father and wife of the killer had any real character, but this mainly comprised of sitting around looking at each other gloomily.

So, maybe the film is indeed a work of genius, but I missed it if it is. So I'd only recommend it if you are very attuned to this sort of thing.