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IZO (2004)

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Film details

Featuring

Kazuya Nakayama Ryosuke Miki Kenichi Endo
Director

Takashi Miike
Country

Japan
Year

2004
Genres

Horror Crime Fantasy
Type

Film
Category

Fiction

Synopsis

Samurai film based on the historical figure of Izo Okada (1838-1865) a lower class samurai belonging to the Tosa Clan. Apprenticed to the Imperial supporter Hanpeita Takechi, Izo became a terrorist, harassing the ruling Shoguns before his capture and execution in 1865. In the film Izo is resurrected in the twentieth century, and sets out on a campaign of violence and retribution against those in authority. Becoming a demonic spirit, he changes his bodily appearance several times, becoming more violent with each change. Throughout his battles, his lover Saya appears as a sympathetic figure, embodying love and peace, representing his feminine, other side. After his demise, Saya gives birth to a baby who becomes the reincarnated peaceful version of Izo.

Cast & Credits

Cast
- - Izo Okada
    
    Kazuya Nakayama
  - Hanpeita Takechi
    
    Ryosuke Miki
  - shogun
    
    Kenichi Endo
  - shogun
    
    Susumu Terajima
  - cast member
    
    Hiroyuki Nagato
  - cast member
    
    Haruna Takase
  - cast member
    
    Takeshi Kitano
  - cast member
    
    Kaori Momoi
  - cast member
    
    Ryuhei Matsuda
  - cast member
    
    Ken Ogata
  - cast member
    
    Mickey Curtis
Credits
- Direction:
  - Director
    
    Takashi Miike
  Production:
  - Production Company
    
    KSS Films
  - Production Company
    
    Office Kitano
  - Production Company
    
    Excellent Films
  - Producer
    
    Yasuhiro Hatano
  - Producer
    
    Hideo Takano
  - Producer
    
    Hidehiro Ito
  Writing:
  - Screenplay
    
    Shigenori Takechi
  Photography:
  - Director of Photography
    
    Nobuyuki Fukazawa
  Editing:
  - Editor
    
    Yasushi Shimamura
  Design:
  - Set Designer
    
    Toshiyuki Matsumiya
  Music:
  - Music
    
    Kôji Endô
  Sound:
  - Sound
    
    Kenji Shibasaki

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