The ScreenAnarchy curated
Tokyo Drifters: 100 Years Of Nikkatsu screening series continues this Saturday with a rare screening of Kurahara Koreyoshi's
Intimidation. Kurahara's film is one of the purest examples of a Japanese take on American film noir and has seldom been seen on screens on this side of the ocean.
A lean, efficient crime thriller from prolific Nikkatsu vet Koreyoshi Kurahara, Intimidation
focuses on Takita (Nobuo Kaneko), an ambitious, rising bank manager at a
regional branch clawing his way to the top of his firm by any means
necessary -- most often by walking all over his meek underling and
childhood friend Nakaike (Akira Nishimura). On the verge of his
promotion to head office, Takita has his world upended when a mysterious
blackmailer appears with proof that Takita has been cooking the books
at his branch. There is only one way for Takita to avoid exposure: help
the blackmailer rob the bank where he works. A brilliant Japanization of
American film noir, this tightly plotted and finely wrought little gem
displays Kurahara's caustic view of Japanese class relations and his
country's hypocritical culture of success.
Watch a scene below and
find complete series details and order tickets here!