Junji Sakamoto Movies

Based on the controversial but commercially successful novel Blood and Bones by Japanese-Korean author Yan Sogil, writer/director Junji Sakamoto's confrontational drama examines the devastating plight of Thai children who have become hopelessly trapped in the machinations of child prostitution and black market organ harvesting by taking a decidedly indiscriminate approach to the sensitive subject matter. These aren't crimes that are unfolding in some faraway land where little can be done to prevent them, but right in a place where they could be effectively prevented if it weren't for the oppressive apathy of the masses and their stubborn unwillingness to acknowledge the problems that exist just out of sight. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Directed by Junji Sakamoto, Bokunchi (My House) offers insight on living in a small, somewhat eccentric village from the perspective of a little boy. Based on a comic series by Rieko Saibara, seven-year-old Nita and his older brother Ita live within a fishing community, where they are cared for by their mother, Kanoko. Abandoned by his father at an early age, Nita spends most of his time wandering around the town, regularly checking up on various local haunts and the people who reside in them. When his mother's older sister arrives on the island, however, Nita's predictable existence turns upside down. Bokunchi features Arisa Mizuki, Yuma Yamamoto, Yuki Tanaka, Claude Maki, and Ran Otori. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

Junji Sakamoto spins this tale of a socially inept yet indomitable woman searching for freedom and self-respect. Set in Kobe at the beginning of 1995, the film introduces Masako (Naomi Fujiyama), a withdrawn, middle-aged woman living above her mother's dry cleaning shop. She rarely leaves the house and is often tormented by her pretty younger sister. After their mother suddenly dies, the sisters' sibling rivalry takes a rather nasty turn. Immediately after the funeral, Masako strangles her sister in an explosion of rage and humiliation. Just as she stumbles into life on the run, the Kobe earthquake strikes. Terrified that the disaster is some divine retribution for her crime, she flees willy-nilly to Osaka, where, after losing her virginity to a rape, she finds shelter and eventually employment at a "love hotel." When the owner of that establishment hangs himself to escape a mountain of bad debt, Masako flees to Beppu on the southern island of Kyushu. There she falls in love with a down-and-out salesman and finds camaraderie with a world-weary bar owner. In spite of the constant air of violence and the occasional rape, Masako blossoms in her new surroundings until her past -- and the police -- start to catch up with her. This film was screened at the 2000 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

The Tokarev, similar to a Magnum 45, is used to hold up a Japanese school bus. The driver's son is kidnapped for ransom. Takashi, the son, appears on video asking for the 10 million yen ransom. The ransom is paid but Takashi is found murdered in a garbage bag. His father, Michio takes matters into his own hands. He suspects a neighbor, approaches him, and is shot with the Tokarev. Michio survives his wound, and giving the police false information forges ahead on his own. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi