Takeshi Kitano, master of the yakuza film and cult figure of Japanese cinema, returns with a singular project: Broken Rage. This action-thriller plays with the codes of the genre, dividing its narrative into two parts. First, a classic first half in which a hitman (played by Kitano himself) attempts to evade law enforcement and criminals. This is followed by a surprising second half, in which the same story is reinterpreted from a comic and satirical angle.
Far from being a simple thriller, Broken Rage promises a double reading: a tribute to the darkness of the crime film and a humorous deconstruction of the genre's clichés. Through this work, Kitano explores his taste for irony and the contrast between raw violence and absurdity, a trademark he has already tackled in films such as Sonatine, mélodie mortelle and Achille et la tortue.
Broken Rage will be broadcast on Prime Video from February 13, 2025.
Synopsis: The film is divided into two distinct parts. The first half follows a hitman caught between law enforcement and the yakuza, while the second part reimagines the same story through a comic prism.
Broken Rage will appeal above all to fans of Takeshi Kitano, whose unique style oscillates between ultra-realistic violence and absurdist humor. Viewers familiar with his works such as Hana-Bi or Outrage may appreciate this new approach to the crime thriller, enriched by a self-deprecating dimension.
Fans of yakuza and action films may be seduced by the first part of the story, which seems to revive the genre's dark, hard-hitting aesthetic. On the other hand, those who prefer a linear, serious narrative may be put off by the change of tone in the middle of the film.
The decision to divide the film into two very distinct styles is a risk-taking move that may seduce as much as it questions. Kitano has often played with the conventions of the gangster film, but here he takes it a step further by integrating a genuine comic mise en abyme. The process is reminiscent of certain films by Quentin Tarantino, or experiments such as the Coen brothers' Fargo, where humor defuses violence.
With Broken Rage, Takeshi Kitano offers a hybrid work that mixes action, thriller and comedy, playing on a strong contrast between a tense first half and a quirky second. Somewhere between a traditional yakuza film and an intelligent satire, this feature film will appeal to fans of Japanese cinema and bold narrative experiments.
This article is based on information available online; we have not yet viewed the film or series mentioned.
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