We embrace the enchanting glow of the big screen for all manner of reasons; to journey to faraway places we could only ever imagine, to experience the escapism of a captivating story, or maybe to indulge in an obsession with the world of cinema. For me, all three of these reasons apply - and many more - but first and foremost is the satisfaction of recommending obscure films to other like-minded individuals who adopt them as their new favourites.
With over 100 years worth of films to choose from, and many of these now available at the click of a button, it can be extremely difficult to narrow your choices down to pick a film to watch. Although cinema has been around for over four times longer than my life on this earth, I have spent what some may consider an unhealthy amount of these years delving into the history of films to discover some of the best hidden gems out there.
A Fugitive from the Past
Director - Tomo Uchida
Country - Japan
Runtime - 183 minutesCountry - Japan
Year - 1965
A Fugitive from the past is an epic crime saga tracing the
lives of a criminal, Inukai, who flees from a heinous act to start a new
existence as a successful businessman in Tokyo, and a prostitute, Yae, who
shelters Inukai from his crime and longs to return her thanks for his
generosity when he pays her handsomely after only a single night together. Close
on their tail is a world-weary policeman, Yumisaka, who is devoted to solving Inukai’s
crime; with a determination that drives his obsession to the limit at the
expense of his family life. This core triumvirate of characters provide the
emotional heft for the saga, in a fascinating tale that spans years as it examines
the inherent cultural class differences in post-war Japanese society.
Once the storyline steps forward in time to ten years after the initial incident, we see a shift in direction as the screenplay evolves into a film-noir style mystery that intriguingly traverses the route of a police procedural drama. Each of the main characters are now grappling with demons from former days - a universal theme that resonates with anyone of a certain age, regardless of what the regrets may be – and the search for truth amidst a clouded past. These themes expand to encompass the morality of humanity and the choices we make that shape our lives forever; creating a deep and involving film with a rewarding payoff and a handful of heart stopping narrative turns along the way.
The female lead, Sachiko Hidari, carries the weight of her
depressing character arc with a surprising optimism, portraying the prostitute
Yae as a steadfast young woman, eager to carve out her place in the world
against all odds. Her encounters with the criminal Inukai exude a natural
on-screen chemistry, even when the tides are turned against her as Inuaki
cruelly relinquishes an opportunity to fully escape from his devious past. There
is a strong supporting cast throughout; those with mere seconds of screen time
leave an indelible mark on the storyline – particularly a creepy old lady who
appears possessed in a startling scene near the film's beginning, and ends up haunting Inukai’s memories.
For a film with a runtime close to three hours, A Fugitive from the Past never outstays its welcome. The intricate storyline is paced to allow the audience time to formulate their own conceptualisations, however, director Tomu Uchida still manages to deliver a revelatory outcome that many will not see coming. Akira Kurosawa is the most infamous of all Japanese directors - and rightly so - but Uchida’s mastery of the medium comes excruciatingly close to matching the finesse of his magnificent work. Alongside Kurosawa’s masterpieces such as Red Beard and High and Low, Uchida’s superb crime thriller deserves to be renowned as one of the crowning achievements of Japanese cinema during the 1960s.
For previous instalments in the series click here
Opening with an enthralling sequence in which Inukai and two
other offenders flee from a crime under the cover of a relentless storm, A
Fugitive from the Past grabs your attention immediately with exposition that
delves into the nuances of their escape to safety. As a backdrop to the main
story we see a huge passenger ferry capsize in the storm and, subsequently,
rescue attempts are launched from the beach where the criminals have fled to in
order to make their escape. When the weather settles, two unidentifiable
corpses are washed up by the tide, and the police suspect they were somehow connected
with the murder, theft, and arson that have left a helpless family in ruins.
Once the storyline steps forward in time to ten years after the initial incident, we see a shift in direction as the screenplay evolves into a film-noir style mystery that intriguingly traverses the route of a police procedural drama. Each of the main characters are now grappling with demons from former days - a universal theme that resonates with anyone of a certain age, regardless of what the regrets may be – and the search for truth amidst a clouded past. These themes expand to encompass the morality of humanity and the choices we make that shape our lives forever; creating a deep and involving film with a rewarding payoff and a handful of heart stopping narrative turns along the way.
Rentaro Mikuni, who portrays Inukai, has a truly commanding
presence - although the character’s prominent stature and assertive persona
only come to the forefront in the second half of the film. As an anxious offender
fleeing from the law, Mikuni appears suitably unhinged, and he undergoes a
striking catharsis to become the businessman with an apparent clear conscience
who is ruthlessly interrogated by the police. Yumisaka, the shamed policeman
who is haunted by his failure to solve the case, could easily be the blueprint
for similar characters in many modern crime films and he is played by Junzaburo
Ban in a stunning performance; acting as the perfect counter balance to
Mikuni’s brooding criminal.
For a film with a runtime close to three hours, A Fugitive from the Past never outstays its welcome. The intricate storyline is paced to allow the audience time to formulate their own conceptualisations, however, director Tomu Uchida still manages to deliver a revelatory outcome that many will not see coming. Akira Kurosawa is the most infamous of all Japanese directors - and rightly so - but Uchida’s mastery of the medium comes excruciatingly close to matching the finesse of his magnificent work. Alongside Kurosawa’s masterpieces such as Red Beard and High and Low, Uchida’s superb crime thriller deserves to be renowned as one of the crowning achievements of Japanese cinema during the 1960s.
If you take the time to watch A Fugitive from the Past then it would be awesome if you could also take the time to let me know what you thought of it, either by commenting below or tweeting me @filmbantha. Thanks, and enjoy!
