A Family: A poignant, modern look at the Yakuza.

 Sometimes you go into a movie with zero expectations and are just pleasantly surprised by what you've just viewed. For me, A Family was a movie which I had previously heard nothing about and yet it had an interesting premise, Go Ayano in the lead role and was about Yakuza. These things intrigued me enough to give it a chance and I'm glad I did as it may be one of the best modern day Yakuza movies as well as one of the finest movies made in 2021. 

The movie begins in 1999 and we are introduced to our leading man, Lil' Ken otherwise known as Kenji Yamamoto. At this point Kenji is a blonde haired teenager and it turns out that he's stumbling into his father's funeral. At the funeral we learn that Kenji's father died of a drug overdose, Kenji resolves to never become like his father and ends up stealing drugs off of a local drug dealer and tosses them into the ocean with the help of his two friends. Unfortunately for our lead man, that drug dealer just happened to work for Kato, a leader of a Yakuza group. Kato's men chase and beat Kenji for his transgressions. In a turn of good fortune or bad considering how things turn out later, Kenji's actions catch the attentions of another local Yakuza syndicate, this one run by the middle-aged and fair Hiroshi Shibasaki. Hiroshi takes Kenji to his office and takes him under his wing, making Kenji a new Yakuza member. Kenji also gains a father figure in Hitoshi and the two become close. 

Following Kenji's initiation into the Yakuza, we then jump forward to 2006. It is soon made apparent that Kenji has become a trusted member of Hitoshi's syndicate as we see that he's respected when he frequents a bar owned by Hitoshi. Unfortunately, a member of Kato's Yakuza group causes a bit of a scene that ends up with Kenji having to intervene. The scene turns into a classic case of Yakuza territorial dispute, causing Kenji to make a rather bold, brash and impulsive decision out of a sense of loyalty to Hiroshi as well as for his honour and personal vengeance against that offending party. Kenji runs into the arms of a bar hostess he had previously attempted to have sex with and tried to initiate a romance with. Our protagonist ends up arrested and thrown in jail. 

We next catch up with a released Kenji as he attempts to reconnect with his father figure, Hitoshi, his old gang mates and eventually Yuka as well. Unfortunately, Kenji struggles to find a new purpose and meaning in life as it turns out that a lot has changed thanks to the passing of new anti-Yakuza laws whilst he was locked up. The question becomes, can Kenji find a way to live life in this seemingly vastly different and new world? Unfortunately, things don't end up happily and we are given a gut punching, emotional ending. 

One of the reasons that I like this movie so much is in it's fresh, modern approach to the Yakuza and thus standing out within the genre. This movie dives into the modern day Yakuza after the passing of the Yakuza exclusion ordinances that local Japanese governments approved in the 2010s. These laws practically crippled the Yakuza as it prohibited regular citizens from engaging or doing business with any Yakuza and thus it severely damaged commercial operations and personal lives. Anyone involved with the Yakuza would also no longer be able to open bank accounts, rent property, acquire mobile phones or even order pizza without being sanctioned. These ordinances also turned the public firmly against the Yakuza and casting off the romanticized anti hero image that had previously been prevalent thanks to their cinematic appearances. Particularly of import is the fact that even those who quit the Yakuza are still subject to the exclusion ordinances for five years, thus, any attempts to reintegrate into society is extremely difficult. 

A Family depicts these heavy effects tremendously as for example we see Kenji having to rely on a friend to acquire a mobile phone. His rank prior to jail is also found to mean naught upon his release and the Shibasaki family all struggle to adapt to the new world. With their legitimate sources of income now no longer available, some of the lieutenants become drug mules and illegal fisherman in order to survive. One of Kenji's closest friends has struggled after quitting the organisation and has ended up having to work at a toxic disposal site due to the discrimination he's received as a result of being a former Yakuza. He's constantly on edge to the point of being paranoid of the social media usage of his co workers as he fears they may accidently or purposely expose his criminal past and thus killing his chance at a new family life. This leads into the tragic ending of the movie which is beautifully morbid. 

The movie even delves into the new generation of hagure that has filled the void in the shrivelled Yakuza presence. The irony of the movie's version being that it ends up being the chosen path for Tsubasa. Tsubasa was a boy whom Kenji doted on back in 2006 and thus sets Kenji into a mentor role as he attempts to save Tsubasa from making the same mistakes that he had previously. 

Go Ayano does admirably in a tough, lead role. He portrays Kenji at all three different ages and is convincing enough to make it work. When emotion is required of him, he brings it in droves and his subtle use of body language us exquisite. Hiroshi Tachi brings a somewhat sympathetic quality to his role as Hiroshi Shibasaki and his mentorship of Kenji is wonderful. 

Overall, I stand firm in believing that this was one of the best movies released in 2021 for the way in which it approached the Yakuza genre with a fresh, modern lens. It's also worth seeing for it's gripping narrative and drama with strong performances across the board. Also, the hard hitting ending was beautifully delivered.