United Red Army
The history of the Japanese 60s–early 70s political movement is messy, and lead to violent extremes, namely the Rengo Sekigun, aka United Red Army. (…) Wakamatsu has created a docu-fiction about URA, with the intention of showing what really happened. His eye and camera are completely inside the group.
– EIJA NISKANEN, TOKYO JOURNAL
Human nature’s dark side is the menacing midwife to the stillbirth of ’60s idealism in the initially challenging and ultimately riveting ”United Red Army”. Among the last of Japan’s active New Wave directors, Koji Wakamatsu shows he still has the chops to fashion compelling drama in this depiction of a real-life violent leftist group. Three-hour running time may deter some fest auds and programmers, but pic’s Japanese fi lm award at this year’s Tokyo fest should help to make this a must-see item.
– RUSSELL EDWARDS, VARIETY
Duration: 190 min
Dialogue: Japanese
Subtitles: English
