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Vengeance is Mine (1979 film)
Encyclopedia
Vengeance Is Mine is a 1979 film directed by Shohei Imamura
, based on the book of the same name by Ryuzo Saki
. It depicts the true story of serial killer
Akira Nishiguchi
(Iwao Enokizu in the film).
It stars Ken Ogata
as Enokizu, with Mayumi Ogawa
, Rentaro Mikuni, Mitsuko Baisho, Nijiko Kiyokawa and Chocho Miyako. The film won the 1979 Best Picture Award at the Japanese Academy Awards
, and won Best Screenplay at the Yokohama Film Festival
, where Ken Ogata also won Best Actor.
) is on the run from the police.
Shohei Imamura
turns this fact-based story of the seventy-eight-day killing spree of a remorseless man from a devoutly Catholic family into a cold and perverse portrait of the primitive coexisting with the modern.
The film covers topics close to heart in Imamura's three-hour epic, The Profound Desire of the Gods
back in 1968, which also delved into human behaviour in extremis
. Over a decade later, the release of Vengeance Is Mine
touches upon the moral squalor of moden Japan during and after the war, too. Its historical context is of a country that oozes self-hating guilt, which indirectly manifests itself in the form of a serial killer's maturation and anti-career.
Shohei Imamura
was a Japanese film director. Imamura was the first Japanese director to win two Palme d'Or awards.His eldest son Daisuke Tengan is also a script writer and film director, and worked on the screenplays to Imamura's filmsThe Eel , Dr...
, based on the book of the same name by Ryuzo Saki
Ryuzo Saki
is a Japanese novelist, non-fiction writer, born in North Hamgyong, a province of what is now North Korea. He is interested with many crimes in Japan and published many books about Japanese crimes....
. It depicts the true story of serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
Akira Nishiguchi
Akira Nishiguchi
was a Japanese serial killer and fraudster. He is most known for being able to confuse Japanese police into believing that he was only connected to fraud rather than the murders. While engaging in confidence scams, he murdered two people, was put on the most wanted list, and killed three others...
(Iwao Enokizu in the film).
It stars Ken Ogata
Ken Ogata
Ken Ogata was a Japanese actor.Ogata was born in Tokyo, Japan. Ogata is well known for his roles in Peter Greenaway's The Pillow Book, Paul Schrader's Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters and Shohei Imamura's The Ballad of Narayama...
as Enokizu, with Mayumi Ogawa
Mayumi Ogawa
is a Japanese actress. She won the award for best supporting actress at the 3rd Japan Academy Prize and at the 4th Hochi Film Award for Vengeance Is Mine and The Three Undelivered Letters.-Filmography:* Shiroi Kyotō * The Demon...
, Rentaro Mikuni, Mitsuko Baisho, Nijiko Kiyokawa and Chocho Miyako. The film won the 1979 Best Picture Award at the Japanese Academy Awards
Japanese Academy Awards
The , often called the Japan Academy Awards or the Japanese Academy Awards, is a series of awards given annually since 1978 by the Nippon Academy-shō Association for excellence in Japanese film...
, and won Best Screenplay at the Yokohama Film Festival
Yokohama Film Festival
The is a noticed yearly awards ceremony held in Japan. The festival was started as a small affair by fans and film critics, and first held on February 3, 1980. Ten films are chosen as the best of the year, and various awards are given to personnel...
, where Ken Ogata also won Best Actor.
Plot
A thief, murderer, and lady charmer, Iwao Enokizu (Ken OgataKen Ogata
Ken Ogata was a Japanese actor.Ogata was born in Tokyo, Japan. Ogata is well known for his roles in Peter Greenaway's The Pillow Book, Paul Schrader's Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters and Shohei Imamura's The Ballad of Narayama...
) is on the run from the police.
Shohei Imamura
Shohei Imamura
was a Japanese film director. Imamura was the first Japanese director to win two Palme d'Or awards.His eldest son Daisuke Tengan is also a script writer and film director, and worked on the screenplays to Imamura's filmsThe Eel , Dr...
turns this fact-based story of the seventy-eight-day killing spree of a remorseless man from a devoutly Catholic family into a cold and perverse portrait of the primitive coexisting with the modern.
The film covers topics close to heart in Imamura's three-hour epic, The Profound Desire of the Gods
The Profound Desire of the Gods
is a 1968 Japanese film by director Shōhei Imamura. The culmination of the director's examinations of the fringes of Japanese society throughout the 1960s, the film was an 18-month super-production which failed to make an impression at the time of its release, but has since risen in stature to...
back in 1968, which also delved into human behaviour in extremis
In extremis
In extremis or extremis may refer to:* In extremis, a Latin phrase meaning "in the farthest reaches" or "at the point of death"* In Extremis , an album by Thinking Plague* In extremis , a 2000 film by Ettienne Faure...
. Over a decade later, the release of Vengeance Is Mine
Vengeance is Mine
-Films:*Vengeance Is Mine *Vengeance Is Mine , a Japanese film*Vengeance Is Mine , by Michael Roemer*An alternate title for Sympathy for Mr...
touches upon the moral squalor of moden Japan during and after the war, too. Its historical context is of a country that oozes self-hating guilt, which indirectly manifests itself in the form of a serial killer's maturation and anti-career.
External links
- Vengeance is Mine essay by Jasper Sharp
- Vengeance Is Mine :: rogerebert.com :: Great Movies review by Roger EbertRoger EbertRoger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...