Another Lonely Hitman. by Rokuro Mochizuki (1995). Artsmagic DVD Review.

Artsmagic sent me a couple of upcoming releases to look over. Firstly, 'Another Lonely Hitman' - then soon 'Onibi' - both from Rokuro Mochizuki...

Here's a man born almost 50 years ago and, like many in the Japanese film industry, a lot of his credits that could be listed on IMDB probably arent going to make it there. Why? Well, he's one of the numerouse ex-Pinku Directors. Another master of the minimalist budget leading to heavily deep and contemplative films. It's a real toughie to land on the doorstep of the more inexperienced film fan - I can't help feeling this would sit so much better within the minds of the obsessive Yakuza Eiga watcher. Its depths are so hefty they're not entirely obvious, and I was left constantly and desperately scratching away, in order to avoid (or at least attempting to avoid) taking it as standard Yakuza fare. In the end, it certainly isn't standard - instead it's remarkably subtley judged.

The greatest achievement is the real guerilla-style filmmaking that's going on through large swathes of the story. An almost documentary, ultra-real, and everyday look to the whole thing makes the extraordinary and unfamiliar moments all the more powerful. The huge locations turned into barren concrete deserts (a closed fairground for example), the back streets turned menacing hunting grounds for gang members, and the buildings that look almost entirely evacuated.

It makes sense, once you know Mochizuki worked in Pinku films. The story is essentially a relationship fable with interspersed violence, and it reaches the heights of almost being a Pinku movie disguised as a Yakuza film. Ichibana, the Yakuza hitman returning from jail after 10 years for murder, finds himself being exploited as a role-model for younger, more gullible men. He is simultaneously exploited by his bosses who don't truly give him the status he is portayed as having. Thus, he wants deperately to escape the life he has had ten years to contemplate as unsuitable and deceptively prosperous. His motivation elsewhere lies in the form of the call-girl turned lover who gradually decends into junkie hell, a woman who is psychologically torn and destructive, who helps lead Ichibana to begin to find his route out. As a possible future, he wants the humble life of a fisherman to be his. He doesn't want status or supposed luxury, but soulful satisfaction and romance.

Ryo Ishibashi is a superbly solid actor and in the central role of Ichibana is asked to provide the depth of thought and soul on which the film relies. Other actors are perfectly functional and all give good performances - convincing yet nothing too special. Without a lead of such quality, and without the astonishingly confident minimalism of the director the film would potentially fail and look simply thread-bare. It's a real talent that can take what is apparently so little, yet say so much, if only you keep looking. Repeat viewings would yield increasing depth, but the first journey is tough enough to make it a challenge for even the most dedicated.

Ultimately, I am not sure how many will take the film. It may be simply too unfamiliar in its approach and deceptively familiar in its form. You may not like the central performer (though its hard for me not to) or you may expect something completely different from a Yakuza movie. Fans of Fukusaku's "underdog" Yakuza films may get a little more out of it than most, and those luckily already familiar with more of the genre than I am may appreciate its fundamental differences. Sit down to watch it and find yourself accidentally in the wrong mood and you could find it too tough; find yourself melancholic and mournful and you could get an awful lot out of it.

I am torn completely over its charms. Doubtless it's impressive, but it's a bolt out of the blue in terms of the usual film being released in the USA or elsewhere that's licensed from Japan. Those who expect to easily reference it with almost anything we've seen will be hard pushed, and those (who like me) have seen another unusual Artsmagic upcoming release - the 'Angel Guts' films - may stand more chance of ultimately placing in their minds where the approach is coming from.