HIFF The intricacies of life and death in Japan organized crime is examined in "Agitator."

Wiseguys on the rise

A resourceful hero juices the
Japanese gang wars

HIFF schedule

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By John Berger
jberger@starbulletin.com

The ever-shifting balance between loyalty and betrayal is the theme of "Agitator," a long and slow-moving epic of life and violent death among the yakuza of modern Japan.

Unfortunately, a preview tape was too short to hold the entire movie and our "Agitator" experience ended somewhere before the final scenes, making it impossible to assess the intended message. Imagine the impression you'd have of "The Victors," "Bonnie & Clyde," "Easy Rider" or "Dirty Harry" if the final scenes were missing and the action ended 10 minutes earlier than the director intended!

What transpires up to that point is a basic gangster yarn that would play out equally well in Prohibition-era Chicago, modern Vegas, Miami or any inner city 'hood. The incapacitation of an upper-level yakuza leader is seen as a opportunity for advancement by several others. The interlocking conspiracies involve bringing the Shirane and Yokomizo groups under the control of a yakuza leader named Kaito who will then be better placed to move higher in the larger Tenseikai organization.

A key part of the plan is instigating a gang war between elements of the Shirane and Yokomizo groups, and then using the foot soldiers of the two groups to eliminate the gangs' leaders who oppose Kaito. Turncoats within the two groups assist Kaito's people in making it happen.

It all goes as planned until Kunihiko, top hit man of the Higuchi group, a subsidiary of the Yokomizo group, realizes that the successful assassination of the Shirane leader was "too easy" and that the Higuchi group is being used. The Higuchi group cuts its ties with the Yokomizo group, freeing Kunihiko and his men to take revenge, but puts the small band up against the vast power structure.

Up until the tape ran out, Kunihiko had proved as resourceful and resilient as Sylvester Stallone, Charles Bronson, Clint Eastwood or Steven Seagal would have been in similar circumstances.

And, although probably not intended, "Agitator" also provided at glimpse into the similarities and differences in the ways that organized criminal groups do their business in Japan and the United States.

"Agitator" Not rated (but contains male and female nudity, graphic violence that includes torture and sexual abuse, and crude Japanese vocabulary) Plays at 8:45 p.m. tomorrow

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