Feb. 11, 2004|Japan|113 Min.|n/A
Genre: Crime;Horror;Violence(Slasher)
Description: “Concrete” (2004) is a Japanese film that tells the harrowing story of Tatsuo, a young rebel who drops out of school and becomes involved with the yakuza. When he tries to leave the criminal organization, they force him to establish a youth gang. The group starts with petty crimes like theft and extortion, eventually escalating to violent acts, including assault and rape. One day, Tatsuo decides to kidnap a high school girl, whom the gang brutally tortures and rapes over several weeks, leading to her eventual death.
The film is inspired by a real-life 1988 case in Tokyo, where a 17-year-old girl was abducted, subjected to horrific abuse, and murdered. Her body was later discovered in an oil drum filled with concrete. The case sparked public debates about the sentencing and rehabilitation of juvenile offenders and inspired several controversial exploitation films in Japan.
“Concrete” (2004), directed by Hiromu Nakamura, is one such film. Though it faced protests and criticism for its graphic depiction of the crime, it attempts to explore the social factors behind Tatsuo’s actions, such as his broken home, school bullying, limited future prospects, and pressure from his girlfriend. Despite its disturbing content, the film avoids glorifying the perpetrator and instead highlights the tragic consequences of his actions.
Cast director: Hiromu Nakamura
Cast actor: Miki Komori, Katsuya Kobayashi, Masanori Machida, Kensuke Mano, Mika Mifune, Yôichirô Momose, Toshiya Nagasawa, Akihiro Nakatani, Kazutomo Nakatsukasa, Naomi Oki
Original name: コンクリート