Miike does not wish to be pigeon-holed. Along with such disturbing films as 'Ichi the Killer' or action films like 'City of Lost Souls', he produces touching stories like 'The Bird People of China' or 'Guys From Paradise'. The first hour and a bit takes place in a prison, where businessman Kohei Hayakawa (Koji Kikkawa, who was also in Miike's City of Lost Souls) gets thrown into prison for possession of heroin and quickly finds that without money and bribes there's no hope of escaping. Whether he's guilty is not the question, rather how much money he's willing to give to the corrupt warden, and judge, and lawyer, etc.. He gets thrown into a jail cell with three other Japanese men and when they find out he's in for heroin possession he is instantly their best friend. The base of the story is betrayal, and how when things are going right it seems like you can trust everybody, but as soon as you wind up in prison all of those connections forget about you, or do something to betray your trust. It's this common understanding that unites the Japanese men in prison, and they hold their end through some very thick trouble. I wouldn't say it's Miike's best work, but it is definitely a solid film, and proves he is capable of much more than shock cinema. Rating: 25/40
