Ichi the Killer (film)
| Ichi the Killer | |
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Original Japanese poster
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| Directed by | Takashi Miike |
| Produced by |
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| Screenplay by | Sakichi Satō |
| Based on |
Ichi the Killer by Hideo Yamamoto |
| Starring | |
| Music by | |
| Cinematography | Hideo Yamamoto |
| Edited by | Yasushi Shimamura |
| Distributed by | Media Blasters (USA) |
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Release date
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Running time
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128 minutes |
| Country | Japan |
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Ichi the Killer (殺し屋１ Koroshiya Ichi?) is a 2001 Japanese crime-horror film directed by Takashi Miike, written by Sakichi Sato, based on Hideo Yamamoto's manga series of the same name, and starring Tadanobu Asano, Shinya Tsukamoto, Nao Omori, and Alien Sun. It portrays a story of feuding yakuza gangs primarily through the actions of a scarred and psychologically damaged man, Ichi ('One'), who is manipulated into assaulting or killing rival faction members.
The film is notorious amongst moviegoers, has raised widespread controversy, and is banned outright in several countries due to its high impact violence and graphic depictions of cruelty.
In a flashback, Ichi masturbates on an apartment balcony while watching a pimp assault a prostitute within.
Off-camera, sadistic crime underboss Anjo is brutally murdered. An expert cleaning crew run by Jijii (Shinya Tsukamoto) immediately removes any trace of Anjo's remains, and credits Ichi for the kill. Later, Kakihara (Tadanobu Asano), Anjo's sadomasochistic enforcer, and other crime lords visit the spotless apartment, concluding that Anjo fled town with the prostitute and ¥3 million of the gang's money.
Kakihara visits an underworld night club with other gang members. He tells Anjo's girlfriend, an English-speaking Chinese prostitute named Karen (Alien Sun) that Anjo must still be alive, though perhaps kidnapped by a rival gang. He also greets Jijii and the cleaning crew at another table, unaware they were in town, and asking them to contact him if they learn anything of Anjo's status.
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Wikipedia