brutal tales of chivalry

In the 1960s, the Japanese film industry pumped out product at a record pace. Movies were sequelized and serialized like popular mangas of the time, creating multiple ongoing franchises for each studio. Brutal Tales of Chivalry (1965) was the first in a string of yakuza stories set during the Showa era (in this case a ruined post-war suburb of Tokyo) where society struggled to rebuild itself in a new image, one that balanced the inherent temptations of capitalism with the traditional rules of honor ingrained in Japanese culture.

Shinji (Ken Takakura), a member of the Kozu family, returns home from the war to a community in crisis. His old boss, struggling to keep the peace between rival yakuza gangs who control good and services supplied to the locals, is murdered for his efforts, passing on the leadership role to Shinji with a nearly untenable caveat that he not retaliate for any wrongs committed against them. Meanwhile the Shinsei gang moves forward with building a new marketplace, putting profits above all else and taking out anything - and anyone - who stands in their way.

New to the Kozu gang is Kazama (Ryo Ikebe), a stranger on a mission to find his long, lost sister who fell in with a bad crowd during the war. Together Shinji and Kazama bend but don't break as the Shensies sabotage every attempt at cooperation and peace making. But when the bodies start to pile up, both men begin to question if their promise a non-violent response is one they can actually keep.

Full of intricate social rules and formalities, Brutal Tales of Chivalry can be a culture shock even for experienced viewers of Japanese cinema. But these are simply details laid over a more universal story of loyalty, honor and revenge that comes full circle in a satisfyingly vicious finale. Even when the mechanics of yakuza society are unclear, star Ken Takakura carries the film with a charisma that crosses all language barriers. In true Quentin Tarantino style, the man is simply the baddest mother****** in the room, taking a bullet at point blank range without a flinch and, perhaps more painfully, watching his true love marry another man. Paired with Ryo Ikebe for a final act full of hacking and slashing, the duo delivers on an almost impossible promise of delayed gratification.

More serious and socially conscious than many other series (the Kozu clan's promise of non-aggression is a not-so-subtle parallel to Japan's post-WW2 military policy), Brutal Tales of Chivalry would continue through 1972, running nine films in total. Whether we'll see Twilight Time release the rest is anyone's guess, but this 3000-copy limited edition blu-ray looks terrific, especially by Japanese studio standards. The lone special feature is a sit-down interview with Toei producer Toru Yoshida who covers the genesis of the series and his role in its creation.