Assassination

35mm print imported from Japan (courtesy of the Japan Foundation)

“Near the end of Japan’s feudal era, Ronin Hachiro Kiyokawa, a smart but shady leader working for the Shogunate, is being secretly watched by a spy ready to kill him if he switches sides. As violence grows between rival political groups, the film digs into themes of loyalty, power, and deception. Its non-linear flashback style keeps Kiyokawa’s true motives unclear. The film stands out as an important part of the Japanese New Wave movement, and Tetsurō Tamba gives a subtle, mysterious performance as Kiyokawa.” - Shun Inoue