Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade
Details
- Directed by: Hiroyuki Okiura
- Produced by: Tsutomu Sugita, Hidekazu Terakawa
- Written by: Mamoru Oshii
- Based on: Kerberos Panzer Cop by Mamoru Oshii
- Music by: Hajime Mizoguchi
- Cinematography: Hisao Shirai
- Edited by: Shūichi Kakesu
- Production company: Production I.G
- Distributed by: Bandai Visual
- Release date: November 17, 1999 (France); June 3, 2000 (Japan)
- Running time: 102 minutes
- Country: Japan
- Language: Japanese
Synopsis
From MyAnimeList.net:After witnessing the suicide bombing of a terrorist girl, Constable Kazuki Fuse becomes haunted by her image, and is forced to undergo retraining for his position in the Capital Police's Special Unit. However, unknown to him, he becomes a key player in a dispute between Capital and Local Police forces, as he finds himself increasingly involved with the sister of the very girl he saw die.
Story
In a sense, Jin-Roh is a question of what it means to be human. However, how it examines and compares the differences is very unusual. Filled with conspiracy and sudden turn of plot twists, the lines between a human and a non-human in turn become blurred. I'm very fond of the way which Little Red Riding Hood is used as a recurring motif but in a completely different manner.It depicts violence as it is, in two different sides of the coin: the government position and the opposing revolutionary group. I was very surprised because in 1998, my country suffered from a revolutionary riot that involved student protests, and yet here it is shown accurately in Jin-Roh, released only a year later. The subtlety notion of welcoming and smooth plot doesn't really give much of its ferocity, at least not until it is ripe with explosive progression. The pacing is really great in my opinion, it has many "calm before the storm" moments and suddenly you are faced with unexpected situations, yet it manages to calm itself again, giving you time to brace yourself of what's more to come.
The ending, however, is one of the most powerful ones I've seen. It's like watching a confrontation between hunter and the hunted. In the scene, you don't know who is winning in Fuse's mind. The result will only be known after you've seen the satisfying aftermath. It also has great writing, expected from the great Mamoru Oshii, with impactful and emotional scenes, especially with the whole conspiracy theme thing.
Surreal and vivid imageries filled Fuse's dreams, in a way that carry us along this twisted and dark nature of the human's head. But, saying this is only a simple romance of PTSD-suffering soldier with a grieving family member of the said soldier's victim would be misleading. Like I said, it is filled many surprises that will catch you off-guard and you will blame yourself for not heeding the foreshadowing (there are a lot of them, you probably will dismiss them as red herring or trivial matters). The romance itself is written in such a way to be the sub plot, rather than the main plot.
The film itself is densely filled militaristic theme, so expect a lot of factions and groups, terms, and armed conflicts. The depiction of the government inner workings is really realistic. We, the public, only see what they allow us to see. Beneath all of their facades, we can see how actually the very same public institutions who swore to protect us are actually constantly battling each other, trying to gain more control and power over the others.
Visual
I thought at first it will be crappy considering its release date, yet it manages to grip tightly and anchors itself to the reality in such a splendid way. The characters really have depth in their features, especially in their face. Fuse with such a calm demeanor and almost emotionless face, carries the mystherious shade of himself. Kei whose face shows innocence and gullibility at first, then really makes me sympathetic to her life as both the victim and the antagonist. The animation really invokes a nostalgic feeling with grimy lens. Oh, and the design, especially the armor and the weaponry, is really terrifying, fulfilling its job in the military-centric movie.Audio
A perfect mix of rock and classical music. However, the background sound really is what makes the experience thrilling and chilling. I feel like being chased everywhere yet the hunter isn't there everytime I look around. And suddenly, it leaps out of the shadow and the cycle begins again.Characters
Now this is where it shines the most. Having such a complex cast of characters is rarely seen in the animated film that is usually constrained by the time and budget. Jin-Roh managed to assemble a rather interesting set of individuals that really have their own conflicts.First of all is Fuse, the male lead. He is very complex, on the outside he is shown to have been numb to pain and suffering after serving the brigade. But, we get to see his human nature after his failed task and we slowly begin to unravel his inner psyche, which is messed up and twisted. Then, in the ending just after we think that he will redeem himself, he reveals his true form, choosing to be the "hunter" rather than being the "hunted".
Kei, the female lead, on the other hand, is shown to be quite pessimistic and depressive, yet we see her in a conflicting position of the villain and the hero. It is revealed at the climax that her inner motives are actually genuine and she truly cares about Fuse, to the point of wanting to die together with him.
Chief Handa, the leader of the so-called "Wolf Brigade", is always a step of you, the audience, and everyone else. He is manipulative, calculating, and cold. He will take any resort to fulfill his goals and is very cautious. He is revealed to be a mastermind, allowing all the events happen around him, and had planned his mission years before the story even takes place. However, he is also filled with regrets and guilts, but has learned to bury them deep inside his heart because of his true allegiance.