Four segments by four different Directors. Kiriko (Takanori Tsujimoto), The Children’s Samurai (Kenta Fukasaku), The Firing Range (Makoto Tahara), and Assault Girl 2 (Mamoru Oshii). Kiriko: the spirit of a murdered assassin takes revenge on the gang that killed her and her sister. Children's Samurai: an educational film narrates the like of a modern grade-school samurai dealing with bullies. Firing Range: the rifle of a Meiji Era soldier and the pistol of a modern police officer are transformed into powerful new weapons when they face off. Assault Girl 2: two guardian angels duel in a wheat field.
Direction
Oshii's segment is basically a fever dream with better cinematography.
Practical Effects
Tsujimoto's assassin ghost delivers practical bloodspray excellence.
Director
Kenta Fukasaku
Rinko Kikuchi
(segment "ASSAULT GIRL 2")
Yoko Fujita
(segment "ASSAULT GIRL 2")
Takuya Mizoguchi
(segment "Kodomo Samurai")
Momoka Ohno
(segment "Kodomo Samurai")
Ayaka Morita
(segment "Kiriko")
Miki Mizuno
(segment "Kiriko")
Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi
(segment "Kiriko")
Narushi Ikeda
(segment "Kiriko")
Yuma Ishigaki
(segment "Youtou shatei")
Kazuki Tsujimoto
(segment "Youtou shatei")
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Mamoru Oshii's Assault Girl 2 is technically a sequel to a six-minute short from his 2007 anthology film, because apparently wheat field angel duels demanded expansion.
Kenta Fukasaku directed Children's Samurai while still processing his father Kinji's legacy—Battle Royale's DNA sneaks into even the 'wholesome' segment.
JP
