It's widely forgotten that Seijun Suzuki, the much beloved (and despised) cinematic anarchist of Japanese cinema, was not only capable of creating cohesive, straightforward films, but excelled at it. A few years before descending fully into creative madness with Tokyo Drifter, Fighting Elegy, and Branded to Kill, he directed Tattooed Life. The film follows two brothers on the run from the yakuza who take up construction jobs working in a tunnel after they are unable to escape to Manchuria. Tetsu, the eldest, was a yakuza hitman who was betrayed by his boss. Kenji, the youngest, was scheduled to start art school. However, Kenji rescued his brother during the attempted hit on his life. The two find solace, camaraderie, and love among the tunnel workers. Much time is spent detailing their communal celebrations and brotherly antics. However, they are soon discovered and it isn't long before Tetsu's old yakuza associates come for blood. This is a film about relationships and how individuals fit inside larger communities. Yes, there is an epic and bloody showdown at the end. But it almost seems out of place in such a sedate film. But nevertheless, this is a terrific entry into the filmography of one of Japan's most fascinating, and polarizing, directors.
7/10
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