Traces of Sin

One year after the bloody murder of an upper-class couple, reporter Tanaka (Satoshi Tsumabuki) revisits the unsolved case, despite resistance at work and personal troubles. Tanaka is disturbed to uncover details that challenge his original reporting: the butchered well-to-do husband and wife were not the ideal socialites they appeared. One-by-one, his interview subjects remove their masks, painting a disturbing portrait of Japan’s social elite. Director Kei Ishikawa’s impressive first feature, which was produced by Office Kitano and premiered at the Venice Film Festival, uncovers the darkness at the heart of human nature in a rare depiction of class warfare in Japan. Hikari Mitsushima (Love Exposure) gives an outstanding performance as Tanaka’s damaged sister, who gravitates towards life’s dark corners. If Traces of Sin were a cocktail, it would be The Great Gatsby with a dash of Psycho.