Hidari kiki no sogeki-sha: Tôkyô wan

Set up for assassination, an undercover policeman working within a crime gang is targeted. His murder sparks a far reaching investigation after two detectives are assigned the case. The two men have a strained relationship one is a young inexperienced, bright & enthusiastic novice, the other a no-nonsense cynical veteran. Ultimately they compliment each other throughout the sprawling investigation. As the police procedural gathers momentum the detectives uncover a complex web of organised crime. The compelling crime thriller has many facets of deeply drawn social and human dimension. Brilliantly written by Zenzô Matsuyama, he has many notable screen credits to his name, the tale is an absorbing thriller, a dark and grim drama. Known for his complex noir/crime dramas director Yoshitarô Nomura adapts the tale and paints a beautifully bleak portrait. The stark setting is the heavily built up fringes of Tokyo Bay. Expansive vistas composed in washed out b&w only enhance the atmospheric bleakness. Stretched as far as the eye can see an urban and industrial jungle landscape, an austere habitat in which the drama and struggles of human existence plays out. Highly Recommended !!