Kyôsô Jôshi-kô
1969 / 77m - Japan
Drama
3.5*/5.0*
Running in Madness, Dying in Love poster

Watches

March 13, 2010

3.5*/5.0*

Another great Wakamatsu, not surprisingly a late 60s film. He really was on top of his game back then, not just quantity-wise, but also quality-wise. They're not the easiest films to get into, and you have to be able to see through (or appreciate) the shock and taboo, but once you get there, he was easily one of the best directors of his decade.

A man takes part in a violent political demonstration. Later on he gets into a fight with his brother, who works as a policeman. Things run out of hand and the policeman's wife kills her husband. She flees with her brother in law, but their relationship is unstable and the longer they remain together, the harder it becomes to leave their past behind.

Stylistically very interesting, with impressive cinematography and a pretty experimental score. The characters are difficult but intriguing, the ending is impressive and the runtime just perfect. Wakamatsu's films are not for everyone, but they take up a very unique place in cinematic history. People who want to get into his work will find a good entry point in Running in Madness, Dying in Love.