‘Broken Rage’ to Debut at Venice International Film Festival

Aug. 26 (UPI) — Prime Video’s “Broken Rage” is set to debut at the Venice International Film Festival this September, marking a significant achievement for a Japanese film produced for a streaming service.

“Redefining the norms of the genre, the first half follows a hitman, Nezumi (played by Takeshi Kitano), fighting for his survival when he’s caught between the police and yakuza,” according to the official synopsis. “But in the second half, the gritty crime-action thriller takes an unexpected turn, evolving into a self-parodying comedy that retells the same story with a captivatingly humorous touch.”

The contrast that writer, director, and star Takeshi Kitano explores in “Broken Rage” presented unique challenges for the cast.

“When I first read the script, I felt this was a new creative direction for him, quite different from his previous work,” said Nat Omori, one of the film’s stars, in a press release. “And I wasn’t sure how to approach it. But on set, despite the intensity, there was still laughter, with the familiar excellent atmosphere you get on one of Kitano’s sets.”

Alongside Omori, the film features an ensemble cast that includes Tadanobu Asano (“Shogun”), Shidō Nakamura, Hakuryu, Takashi Nishina, So Kaku, Gekidan Hitori, Masanori Hasegawa, Azusa Babazono, and Mogura Suzuki.

“Broken Rage” will premiere at the Venice International Film Festival on September 6, an event dedicated to “raising awareness and promoting international cinema in all its forms.”

Kitano is no stranger to acclaim, having previously won the Golden Lion at the Venice festival for his 1997 film “Hana-bi.” His other notable works as a director include “Boiling Point” and the “Outrage” trilogy.