Two detectives begin a stakeout based on the slim chance of catching a murderer whom they suspect will try to reunite with an old flame.
Direction
Nomura's patient procedural rhythm builds unbearable tension
Acting
Hideko Takamine's silence speaks entire monologues
Cinematography
Shadow-drenched Yokohama streets, waiting made visual
Director
Yoshitarō Nomura
Minoru Ōki
Takao Yuki, the police detective
Takahiro Tamura
Kyûichi Ishii, the murderer
Seiji Miyaguchi
Yuji Shimooka, the police detective
Hideko Takamine
Sadako Yokokawa
Kin Sugai
Mrs. Shimooka
Masao Shimizu
Mr. Yokokawa
Ryōhei Uchida
Mr. Yamada, principal offender
Kamatari Fujiwara
Mr. Takakura
Kumeko Urabe
Proprietress of the Hotel Hizen-ya
Hizuru Takachiho
Yumiko Takakura
Miki Odagiri
Tanie Kitabayashi
Shinsuke Ashida
Toshiaki Konoe
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Made during Japan's economic boom, the film's stagnant police work critiques rapid modernization's moral costs. Nomura adapted Seicho Matsumoto's novel, launching decades of socially-conscious crime films.
The 116-minute runtime covers roughly 72 hours of story time—Nomura shot the stakeout scenes in chronological order to exhaust his actors authentically.
JP
