Masters of Cinema:

Based on the true story of Iwao Enokizu (Ken Ogata) and his murderous rampage which sparked a 78-day nationwide manhunt, Shohei Imamura's disturbing gem Vengeance is Mine won every major award in Japan on the year of its release. Both seducing and repelling with its unusual story and grisly humour, Imamura uncovers a seedy underbelly of civilised Japanese society. Unfolding through multiple flashbacks, Ogata delivers a career-defining performance as a day-labourer and smalltime con-artist who, after killing two of his co-workers, embarks on a psychopathic spree of rape and murder. Eluding the police and public, Japan's infamous "King of Criminals" passes himself off as a Kyoto University professor, only to become entangled with an innkeeper and her perverted mother. Five years in the making, Vengeance is Mine transcends the limitations of run-of-the-mill criminal studies by presenting a portrait of a killer imbued with a poignant, tragic banality.

Shohei Imamura's biggest hit in Japan is a gritty, dirty little true story about a murderer and his run from the law.  However, that isn't all, it is another in a long line of stories of post-war Japan and the systemic corruption that was both institutional and individual.  The behavior of Ogata Ken's Enokizu Iwao was symptomatic of an entire nation still coming to grips with it's national identity.  He was an anti-social, smooth talking, criminal, who did what he needed to to survive and continue on his path toward oblivion.

Made in 1979, Vengeance is Mine echoes Imamura's sixties output through its depiction of the corrupted Japan.  The landscape is dotted with the ubiquitous brothels, the two timing men and women, and everyone looking out for number one.  Enokizu is really no better or worse that the madam who pimps out her daughter, or the father who lusts after his daughter-in-law.  The one thing that makes Enokizu stand out is his lack of restraint when it comes to murder.  He commits murder as he deems necessary to ensure his continued freedom.  He doesn't do it maliciously, strange though that may sound, he feels justified with every passing corpse.  He gets by on his ability to morph into whatever form he sees as necessary, and it isn't until he abandons that shape-shifting and finds a person for whom he has feelings that he is finally tracked down.

Vengeance is Mine is a masterfully made film with something for everyone.  There is sex, there is violence, there is love, there is betrayal, and there is drama.  It's very easy to see how this became such a critical and commercial success in Japan upon its release.  Despite its inclusion of the classic ingredients for an exploitation film, it never feels exploitative at all, it is well made and treats its characters with too much respect, even when they probably don't deserve it.  Imamura's compassion for Enukizo is very apparent, even as he kills, sometimes callously, but never without some cause, selfish though it might be.  But then again, aren't we all a little selfish?

The disc:

Masters of Cinema have a great track record, but this disc is a bit less stellar than I would have hoped.  The image is relatively clean, with very few marks, however, it seems very flat.  The image seems overly grainy during dark sequences, and there are very few instances where the image shows clear detail.  I know that Masters of Cinema gets their HD masters from the studios in Japan, and that they don't usually have the budget or the access to create their own, and I think in this case it has led to an unremarkable image.  It just seems like more could have been done to tighten the image up.  I have the Criterion DVD and the Masters of Cinema DVD also in my collection, and while this Blu-ray is certainly an improvement, it isn't the stunner I'd hoped for.  The audio fares much better, the dialogue is clean and clear and there is no reason not to recommend it.

The real strength of this package comes with Masters of Cinema's extras.  First there is a massive booklet with a ton of fascinating content.  It includes essays, a director's statement, some original promotional material, and other great stuff.  At 56 pages, it is a book I would pay for by itself.  Also included is a wonderful commentary from Tony Rayns, whose commentary for Profound Desires of the Gods I also enjoyed, they are both a bit dry, but it is clear that Rayns knows his stuff, and listening was a very enriching experience.  Apart from that we get a 10 minute intro from Alex Cox which was nice, but nothing to write home about, as well as Japanese teasers and trailers.  A very solid set of extras for a film that is certainly worthy of them.

Masters of Cinema have put their blood, sweat, and tears into this release, but I believe that Shochiku probably handicapped them with their lackluster restoration.  However, I can absolutely recommend this as the best English-friendly presentation yet of Vengeance is Mine!

Masters of Cinema present Vengeance is Mine on Region B locked Blu-ray.