The Wolf, the Pig and the Man

This is the first film in which Fukasaku himself was closely involved with deciding on the theme. The film is set on the expanses of derelict land of a bombed city as it is prepared for building by bulldozers. The images are symbolic of the way in which the post-war reconstruction prepared society for the great equalisation. The theme of this and later films is the question of how the individual changes along with this social dynamic and how people acquire a new life in post-war society. The style is still that of the action film.With an unrelenting rhythm, the film portrays the merciless and cruel struggle between three brothers from a slum area. The eldest brother is a loyal member of a Yakuza gang, the middle one is a criminal ‘loner’ who puts all his energy into the hunt for money and women, while the youngest keeps pigs in the slum neighbourhood. When the middle brother along with the youngest and some rowdy friends steal drugs and money from the gang of the eldest brother, this marks the start of a life and death struggle between the three. The pictures of the slum area as backdrop to their struggle are impressive. The scene in which the middle brother mistreats the youngest and his friends gives an especially masterful commentary on the theme of solidarity.Co-scriptwriter Sato Junya is from the same generation as Fukasaku and was also director with the Toei Studio. Takakura Ken, who plays the middle brother, played this film his last role as outcast, because in that same year he started on a series of successful roles as honourable Yakuza (in the so-called Ninkyo films). The film was well received by the critics, but audiences stayed away from the cinemas, so it was two years before Fukasaku had another opportunity to make a film.