FILM REVIEWS:
TATSUMI (Japan 2023) ***
Directed by Yoishio Shoji
A return to the 70s Japanese gangster mode, TATSUMI is a nitty-gritty, violent Yakuza film that reminds one of the 70s. Tatsumi, an unassuming fisherman, makes his real livelihood by cleaning up dead bodies for local yakuza gangs. A job is just a job, and the yakuza gangs treat him that way, too, as a low-class lowlife. When criminal intrigue leads to the vicious murder of his ex-girlfriend by one of the gangsters, it thrusts her hot-headed teenage sister Aoi (a tour de force by ingénue Kokoro Morita) onto an unbridled path of vengeance. Tatsumi cannot stand her initially, but eventually softens his feelings for her - the kind of love-hate relationship commonly found in buddy films. With his own personal motives in tow, Tatsumi vows to mentor and protect Aoi to the bitter end of her blood-soaked crusade.
Aoi is a hot-headed young car mechanic, and one can tell that this skill will help them fight the gangsters later on in the film. A good change is that the female is a fighter and not the typical damsel in distress.
The film is impressive in using the backdrop to reflect the seizable and bleak lives of the two protagonists. The coastal town is isolated and drab, and there seems to be no way out of the rut.
Director Shoji keeps his film in focus, keeping the atmosphere constantly tense with some violent (arguably more violent than necessary) action scenes, though there are a few slow spots in the film. It is basically a tough and uncompromising revenge gangster film.
TATSUMI has won accolades at international film festivals:
Bucheon Int’l Fantastic Film Festival (2024) | Nominated, Best Feature Film
Fantasia International Film Festival (2024)
Tokyo International Film Festival (2023) | Nominated, Best Film
TATSUMI opens on VOD & Digital Platforms on November 14th, 2026.
Trailer:
