Retribution

Kurosawa Kiyoshi is one of the most original modern Japanese film makers, with a rapidly growing oeuvre. In the last ten years, a new Kurosawa has been screened each year in Rotterdam, and that while not all his films made it to the festival. Each Kurosawa – dark, psychological and original as they are – is interesting, but Retribution is more than that. Apparently the master was on very good form when he made this film.
Yakusho Koji, one of Kurosawa’s regular actors, plays an experienced and yet stressed-out police detective. When he has to investigate a murder in which he seems to be involved himself, he comes close to having a nervous breakdown – and with Kurosawa this means that someone could degenerate at any moment into real insanity. On top of that, he is troubled by the ghost of a woman in a scarlet dress. The murder case acquires serial dimensions and the involvement of the police seems increasingly likely. He even starts to believe it himself.
The step from reality into the world of roaming spirits is very small in this film. Yet this is not an ordinary horror film. The fears are much too close to real fears for that and the story is told too ingeniously. By the time you think you have worked out the plot, it has already turned twice on its axis. (GjZ)