Korou no Chi is a dark, violent and entertaining throwback to the golden age of Yakuza cinema.

 

I love Yakuza movies. If there's one genre of cinema that I'd watch for the rest of my life it would be Yakuza movies. Action is almost always a guarantee as is the concept of family and honour. Sadly, the genre has not been quite as successful as it was previously in it's golden days of the 70s and 80s. Still, that doesn't mean that there are no good recent offerings to enjoy. One such movie is the one featured in today's blog post. Based on the novel written by Yuko Yuzuki, Korou no Chi was released in 2018. 

Kurou no Chi is set in Hiroshima in 1988 and follows the story of young police officer, Shuichi Hioka. Hioka is new to his precinct, being fresh out of Hiroshima University from which he graduated, and as such is partnered with veteran detective, Shogo Ogami. Ogami is somewhat of a loose cannon known to bend the rules in order to solve cases. The dup investigate the disappearance of an office worker with ties to the local Yakuza. During the course of their investigation, the straight laced Hioka finds himself at odds with the unbecoming tactics used by Ogami. Even more concerning is the fact that there is a war brewing amongst the various local Yakuza factions. 

What Kurou no Chi does remarkably well is showcase the difference between Hioka and Ogami. Hioka is the straight-laced academic who wants everything done by the book as he believes that that is the only way to ensure justice is served. Ogami on the other hand is shown to be willing to get violent with suspects, sleep with women for information and in some aspects is not so different from the Yakuza he investigates. He even manages to trick Hioka into becoming an accomplice to his techniques, much to Hioka's disgust and chagrin. As the pair become divided due to their different approaches, Ogami's effectiveness becomes apparent as his investigation bears fruit. All the while, a question emerges of who Ogami is protecting as a light is shone on his past. There's some genuinely solid depth to Ogami as a character and it's a joy to watch his motivations become apparent by the end. 

Kazuya Shiraishi succeeds at directing a compelling narrative that would feel at home back in the golden days of the Yakuza genre. It's incredibly well paced and the narrative is easy to follow and most importantly ends with a satisfying conclusion that answers the question asked during the events of the movie. 

The cinematography is a vast array of movement. There's a range of moving shots whether it be fluid, rapid movement or even the more subtle, less noticeable motions and even at times shaky cam is used for emphasis on scenes of violence and showcasing some emotions. There are some fixed shots and these shots are used to frame the dialogue and reactions, especially in regards to scenes between Hioka and Ogami. 

The very first scene of the movie sets the dark tone that follows. We see the kidnapped office worker battered and beaten. He's in a den of pigs and the Yakuza force him to eat the pigs dung. Not only that, but we also see his pinky getting brutally severed by a pair of what appears to be shears. Thus, the stage is set for more violence throughout the movie. 

As previously stated, Kurou no Chi feels very much like a throwback to the glory days of Yakuza cinema. The use of voiceovers and photographs gives the movie a certain documentational aspect within it's own reality that harkens back to movies such as Battles Without Honour or Humanity. Even the way the movie is framed and the use of colour in the cinematography combined with the 80s aesthetic makes the movie feel like it belongs back in the glory days of the genre. 

As far as performances are concerned, Koji Yakusho is simply magnificent in the role of Shogo Ogami. His performance is the very lynchpin of the movie and without him at his very best, it would have crumbled. He embodies the hardened, take-no-prisoners detective with incredible aptitude and also handles the nuances with subtle precision. Credit must also be given to the always solid Tori Matsuzaka for his portrayal of rookie detective, Shuichi Hioka. His partnership with Yakusho is filled with antithetical chemistry which works to the benefit of the narrative and without it the conclusion wouldn't have been as satisfying. Speaking of the conclusion, Matsuzaka handled the shift in gear for Hioka splendidly. 

Overall, Kurou no Chi is a rather dark crime drama with a focus on a pair of detectives that are at odds due to their different approaches to enacting justice. It's not a straight up Yakuza movie that focuses solely on a Yakuza faction's drama and conflicts, but it is a really engaging movie that features some well handled Yakuza crime and criminal investigation. I'd heartily recommend it to those that love dark narratives with a little mystery and to those who love a good throwback.