Q&A with director Masato Harada

This rebellious road movie proved Harada an auteur to watch. Employing a melange of cinematic devices and genre tropes, he unleashes a surprisingly humanistic diatribe against the sexism, racism, and corruption in society. When low-level yakuza Tatsuo’s girlfriend is killed at the whim of a sadistic politician, he goes on a rampage for revenge, incurring the gang’s wrath. While on the run, Tatsuo teams up with a marginalized taxi driver (Koji Yakusho), whose taciturn character belies his world-weary resolve. Together they turn all forces of evil on their heads.