

Sugihara, a Japanese-born, third-generation Korean teenager struggles to find a place in a society that will not accept him.
Acting
Kubozuka's explosive, wounded charisma carries everything.
Writing
Kazuki Kaneshiro's novel adaptation hits different.
Score
Punk soundtrack that screams where words fail.

Director
Isao Yukisada
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Zainichi Koreans—Japan's largest ethnic minority—still face systemic discrimination; this film sparked rare mainstream conversation.
Director Isao Yukisada was a Zainichi Korean himself; Kubozuka later became a controversial figure, making his raw performance eerily prescient.