I was shocked by the opening episode of Giri/Haji. Not because the first third of it was in the Japanese language.
It had a filmic quality of modern Japanese and Korean crime drama. Director Julian Farino has approached this visually as Far Eastern cinema, you even get an anime sequence.
The story itself is about a weary detective Kenzo Mori (Takehiro Hira) who has been sent to London in an exchange visit to search for his younger brother Yuto. He is a gangster mixed up with the Yakuza but he was thought to have died.
With some recent violent deaths in Tokyo. Mori is tasked to find him in London, by both his superior and what looks like a chief gangster.
Mori leaves his troubled family life behind. His Japanese contact does not show up to meet him and he might be untrustworthy. His police contact DC Sarah Weitzmann (Kelly Macdonald) has troubles of her own.
Mori realises a half Japanese rent boy Rodney he met in a club would be useful in his below the radar mission.
A stylish drama with a lot that is lurking underneath. This is a lurid noir with hints of twists and turns and betrayal. I am sure Tarantino's Kill Bill is an inspiration.
It had a filmic quality of modern Japanese and Korean crime drama. Director Julian Farino has approached this visually as Far Eastern cinema, you even get an anime sequence.
The story itself is about a weary detective Kenzo Mori (Takehiro Hira) who has been sent to London in an exchange visit to search for his younger brother Yuto. He is a gangster mixed up with the Yakuza but he was thought to have died.
With some recent violent deaths in Tokyo. Mori is tasked to find him in London, by both his superior and what looks like a chief gangster.
Mori leaves his troubled family life behind. His Japanese contact does not show up to meet him and he might be untrustworthy. His police contact DC Sarah Weitzmann (Kelly Macdonald) has troubles of her own.
Mori realises a half Japanese rent boy Rodney he met in a club would be useful in his below the radar mission.
A stylish drama with a lot that is lurking underneath. This is a lurid noir with hints of twists and turns and betrayal. I am sure Tarantino's Kill Bill is an inspiration.
