Death by Hanging (1968)

A Korean man is sentenced to death by hanging, but he survives the execution. For the following two hours, his executioners try to work out how to handle the situation in this black farce.

Director:

Nagisa Ôshima

Writers:

Michinori Fukao, Mamoru Sasaki

Stars:

Kei Satô, Do-yun Yu, Fumio Watanabe

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kei Satô	...	Prison warden
Do-yun Yu	...	R
Fumio Watanabe	...	Education Officer
Hôsei Komatsu	...	District attorney
Rokkô Toura	...	Doctor
Toshirô Ishidô	...	Priest
Masao Adachi	...	Chief of guards
Masao Matsuda	...	Secretary of the D.A.
Takashi Ueno	...	Guard
Takao Usui
Daiji Ozeki
Masayuki Hoshi
Shizuo Satô	...	Guard
Nagisa Ôshima	...	Narrator (voice)
Akiko Terayima

Storyline

A Korean man is sentenced to death by hanging, but he survives the execution. For the following two hours, his executioners try to work out how to handle the situation in this black farce.

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Plot Keywords:

satire | black comedy | communist | korean | hanging | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film is part of the Criterion Collection, spine #798.

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Quotes

The convict: For a time I thought, that maybe I was guilty, somehow. But I remain innocent. Because I'm not R! A nation cannot make me guilty.
Prison warden: Well, R, with such ideas you're not allowed to live.
The convict: I know, that is why I admit it. For all Rs, including you I'll courageously admit to being R and I will die now.

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Connections

Referenced in Tokyo! (2008)

User Reviews

Nagisa lays it on the line

Oshima is a director who usually leaves you in no doubt about what he thinks, but he goes all out here. This film is a strong polemic against the death penalty as practiced in Japan. The condemned man fails to die, and those in the death chamber panic and wonder what to do. After about five minutes of narration (by Oshima himself), the characters gear into action, using Oshima's chosen method : black farce. This is a very funny film, and all the more so because it confronts some very edgy stuff and often crosses the line to outrage. Oshima, as he often does, attacks Japan's sacred cows head on. As well as the death penalty, he deals with prejudice against Koreans, rape, politics, respect for authority and much more.

The acting is excellent, particularly the Korean who plays the condemned man. His calm poise provides an excellent balance to the mania of the officials around him, as they try to make him remember who he is and what he's done.

Strong stuff, warmly recommended.

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

8 December 1971 (USA)

Also Known As:

Death by Hanging

Company Credits

Production Co:

Art Theatre Guild (ATG), Sozosha

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.96 : 1