REEL JAPAN

Score: 8/10

Crime writer Minato Kanae has been called the “Queen of Iyamisu,” a reference to the disturbing and gory nature of much of her writing. However it would be wrong to undercount the many strands of suspense and arabesque horror running through her work, as well as its overall colour of intellectual curiosity. Take, for instance, the journey through butterfly biology and life cycles that readers must make in HUMAN SPECIMENS (an adaptation of which was also reviewed here). There have been many adaptations of her novels onto television and the silver screen. So far, PENANCE is my favorite. Director Kurosawa Kiyoshi (no relation to the famed Akira) manages to balance the serious and quirky styles found in Minato’s writing. Kurosawa, known for his horror film PULSE, also helms the upcoming historical mystery thriller THE SAMURAI AND THE PRISONER. 

PENANCE makes the best of a rigid anthology format. In the prologue to episode one, five young girls’ lives are forever shattered when a predator invades their schoolyard. The remaining episodes follow their separate lives. Each life is touched by, indeed haunted by, the victim’s bitter mother, who exacts a price for their survival. PENANCE features a strong cast, with the excellent Kyoizumi Kyoko (AMACHAN) as Asako and Kagawa Teruyuki as a school official. Kagawa, who I believe to be Japan’s greatest living actor, is effective as always, but has little screen time. Kurosawa featured both in his TOKYO SONATA (2008). 

Aoi Yu headlines episode one as a young woman grappling with a perverse and otherworldly marriage. Aoi was excellent as one of the four sisters in ASURA (2025). 

In episode two, Koike Eiko plays Maki, now grown into a strict and joyless schoolteacher. Koike was wonderful in TOKYO SWINDLER and REBIRTH (reviewed here). She memorably played Lady Masako, sister to Shun Oguri’s tyrannical Hojo ruler in the taiga THIRTEEN LORDS OF THE SHOGUN. This exciting episode is not just a perfect exploration of mob mentality in the context of a school community, it is one of my favorite hours of television ever produced. 

Episode three features early work by Ando Sakura (GODZILLA MINUS ONE, REBOOTING), one of Japan’s most gifted and versatile actresses, and although a weaker episode, Ando’s performance reveals her future promise. 

Ikewaki Chizuru headlines episode four as a strongwilled and wily survivor who challenges Asako’s authority while simultaneously sabotaging her own family. Ikewaki co-stared in THE GREAT PASSAGE (reviewed here) and memorably played Takeda Shingen’s wife Lady Sanjo in the 2007 taiga FUURIN KAZAN. 

Episode five wraps up the remaining threads and features an intense performance by Koizumi Kyoko. Every one of Minato Kanae’s novels features a fraught mother-daughter relationship and PENANCE is no different. Director Kurosawa wisely crafts a spare miniseries, free of gimmicks, minimalist in production and cinematography, even light on musical score, allowing this story of cursed lives to shine. 

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