Description:

Jinsei gekijo: hisha kaku - Based on a book by Ozaki Shiro about a yakuza's honor, duty and loyalty, 'Theater of Life' launched the 1960s ninkyo eiga (yakuza chivalry films) boom and is in many ways, the whole genre's blueprint.

Hishakaku, as honorable a gangster as is humanly possible, is in love with Otoyo, a courtesan. But his obligations to the yakuza code keep them apart, not the least because of his stint in prison. During this time, Otoyo struggles against sinister gangsters who see her not as the sweetheart of a chivalrous gambler doing time for his gang, but as a simple commodity. When he is released from jail, everything has changed and Otoyo unwittingly causes him the greatest heartache a man could know.

The film made both Toei studio actors Koji Tsuruta and Ken Takakura superstars of the yakuza genre, though it's the fragile beauty of the actress Yoshiko Sakuma that impresses the most.

Director: Tadashi Sawashima

Stars: Koji Tsuruta, Yoshiko Sakuma, Ryunosuke Tsukigata and Ken Takakura

1963 - JAPANESE with OPTIONAL ENGLISH SUBTITLES - COLOR - 16:9 ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN - 95 MINUTES