

When bribe money from a rigged election funnels into a dam construction project, collusion, lust, greed and even murder are on the ballot.
Acting
Nakadai's slimeball charisma is uncomfortably magnetic.
Direction
Yamamoto's clinical eye makes corruption feel inevitable.
Cinematography
Muted 70s palette that reeks of cigarette smoke and regret.
Director
Satsuo Yamamoto
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Adapts the 1957 Lockheed bribery scandal that actually took down a Japanese prime minister.
Yamamoto shot this immediately after his 47-hour 'Lone Wolf and Cub' marathon, which explains the exhaustion in every frame.