Bootleg Film English · DVD

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In this darkly comic tale of an alcoholic yakuza and a cop, modern master Masahiro Kobayashi announced his talent to an international audience. Using stark black and white photography, Kobayashi cleverly pays homage to his European influences, including Truffaut and the French New Wave.

Tatsuo, a gangster (or, yakuza) who is about to retire, and his best friend Seiji (a police detective) take a road trip to attend the funeral of Fumiko, who was Seiji's wife and Tatsuo's lover. Along the way, the men's occupational and personal differences prevent the journey from being anything but smooth. With Kobayashi's clever direction and the film's references to classic films, Bootleg Film is a movie lover's delight.