Takahiro Imai is not as well known in the west as Kurosawa, Ozu, Mitzoguchi, or any number of critically respected Japanese directors. That is a shame, and may have much to do with his well-publicized Marxist leanings. But polemics aside, and no matter where you stand politically, the fact is he was a master story teller with a great passion for social justice. I am very grateful for AnimEigo for releasing some of his most important works in beautiful subtitled editions. The latest I've seen is 1964's REVENGE (ADAUCHI), which is an unflinching and unsentimental indictment of the futility of revenge, and a powerful condemnation of any system which expects the individual to sacrifice his life and soul for a rigid code of conduct. It is beautiful to look at, masterfully suspenseful, and gut-wrenchingly powerful.
Buy
Revenge
on DVD
