A Fugitive from the Past (1965)

  'A Fugitive from the Past' (Kiga kaikyo) is a 1965 Japanese film directed by Tomu Uchida.

  Three men are running away from a house they have burnt down and robbed. On the same night a storm destroys most of the landscape, and they escape by sailing across an stretch of sea unnoticed. When the boat arrives the other side, only one man is left, Inukai. Inukai escapes and flees, but gives some money to local prostitute Yae. The policeman on the trail of the robber, Yumisaka, follows Yae to Tokyo.

  When Kinema Junpo took a poll to see what Japanese critics considered the top 118 Japanese films ever made, this came number 3! Above 'Ran' and 'Sansho: The Bailiff' which didn't even appear on the list. It's not a list to be taken serious, but it's a good one to get obscure film suggestions, like 'A Fugitive from the Past'.

  Tomu Uchida is a director no-one has heard of, so I began viewing with no expectations at all. His style is impressive, filming in black and white, with exceptional control of the colour black. As soon as the movie starts, it keeps a solid pace throughout the three hours of run time. It's is a cop thriller, with half the film being the crime, and half the film focusing on the policemen and detectives trying to catch him. Usually films (and 'Jonathan Creek' episodes) spend 5-10 minutes displaying the crime and the rest of the time solving the case, so it's nice to see a change from the standard plot events. Leaving a gap of 10 years between two events, shows how Japan is coping after the war, and shows how the characters have changed in that time. The film gives you no preparation of this change, so it's a big surprise when the characters change so much.

  The film is very well-made and has an intriguing story, that keeps your attention throughout. However three hours is a long time for a story which could easily be told in two hours. The film is at it's most unnecessary, when repeating the story over and over (in the fugitive's alibi, and from the cops to each other), which fills up most of the running time of the last half. For all the build up, there was no big twist. The performances are some of the best I have seen from Japan. It's an expertly told character study, with amazing performances, which is a cross between 'Twelve Angry Men' and 'High and Low'.

TO CONCLUDE
A crime thriller, which is enthralling and appealing. Great acting, great lighting and a great story.

SCORE
79