Another fascinatingly enigmatic film by this unique filmmaker that is bound to enthral and confound in equal measure! A contemplative, profoundly philosophical work that, perhaps, suggests there are indeed more ways to skin the proverbial cat! Detective, Goro Yabuike's (Koji Yakusho) fateful decision to not kill the armed, note-brandishing terrorist proves existentially calamitous! His earnest wish to help both the victim and perpetrator echoes cryptically throughout the dazzling film until its uncommonly powerful conclusion. Kiyoshi Kurosawa's immaculate screenplay is a heady, thought provoking delight, his matchless filmmaking is consistently assured, ably complemented by a no less refined, undeniably soulful performance by the vastly talented, Koji Yakusho. The thoughtful philosopher cop Goro undertaking his seemingly implausible task of having to "Restore the Rules of the World" frequently provides film fans with a wealth of intriguing surrealistic interludes, at times, for me, 'Charisma' occasionally recalled the early, more avant garde experimentation of Fassbinder.
Review of Charisma
