My girlfriend and I just finished watching Kyoki no sakura, and we were both blown away by this film. Although our copy had severely inaccurate subtitles (I bought the Int'l Film Limited edition), it didn't take away from the film. This film initially caught our attention because of it's cast. Genki Sudo, a well- known K-1 kickboxer, stars as one of 3 youths in a socio-political-driven street gang. Another big name star of this film is Yosuke Eguchi, the co-star of the popular japanese medical drama, The Great White Tower. Kyouki no sakura is an amazing ride from start to finish. Visually, the director draws straight from the Stanley Kubrick school of visuals, going as far to pay direct tribute to Kubrick in one scene (look for HAL 2000). The acting is top- notch, with a convincing and chilling turn by Eguchi. The action is over-the-top, and the politically-fueled messages of the various "right side" groups are eye- opening. At times, the love interest in the film seems a bit tedious. I have never read the book that this film was based on, so I don't know if this character was thrown in for the film or not. In spite of this weakness, Kyouki no sakura does not suffer in the least. For lovers of Fight Club, Clockwork Orange and Kill Bill, Kyouki no sakura is a welcome addition to your dvd library.
