Score: 7/10
Directed by Yamashita Tomohiko and starring Matsumoto Koshiro X as the titular Heizo, leader of the arson and robbery bureau of the Edo police, LAWLESS LOVE exemplifies straightforward storytelling at a leisurely pace. The screenwriter, Omori Sumio, wrote the NHK taiga drama FUURIN KAZAN. High definition cinematography captures the beauty of outdoor sets transporting us to historic Edo’s bridges, canals, and antique villas. Composer Yoshimata Ryo (NHK taiga drama ATSUHIME) contributes a pleasant orchestral score. This film succeeds as both a police procedural and a character study. Because it takes its sweet time unfolding the plot, we learn intricate details about colorful side characters and what ties them together. What ensues is a bittersweet story about Heizo’s reunion with old friends and companions from his mispent youth. The film also features the lead actor’s son, Ichikawa Somegoro VII, as young Heizo.
A line from Heian-era poet Ki no Tsurayuki is twice quoted: “The hearts of people are unknowable but in my hometown the flowers still bloom with the fragrance of the past.”
Hito wa isa
Kokoro mo shirazu
Furusato wa
Hana zo mukashi no
Ka ni nioi keru
Matsumoto, a popular actor from a Kabuki dynasty, brings warmth and steely determination to his role. Stuntwork is satisfactory, but perfunctory. When you peel back the layers of this film, it feels the great ambition hidden at the center is not the resolution of the plot, which is a standard case of foiling a heist. Rather, it is the production’s ambition to be accepted as a worthy successor to the popular show of yesteryear.
The previous ONIHEI HANKACHO series ran from 1989 to 2001. It starred Nakamura Kichiemon II who hailed from a Kabuki acting dynasty. Matsumoto Koshiro X is his nephew. Remarkably, Nakamura’s father, Matsumoto Koshiro VIII, played Heizo in an earlier production from 1969-1972. Now four generations from the same family have embodied Heizo. Clearly LAWLESS LOVE was meant to launch a new era of ONIHEI stories, and several episodes of a television series starring Matsumoto have been produced since.
Onihei Hankachō is a series of popular novels written by Ikenami Shotaro (1923-1990) featuring the historical Edo policeman/Tokugawa enforcer Hasegawa Nobutame Heizo. This historic samurai recently cropped up in the recent NHK Taiga drama, BERABO/UNBOUND, set in the 18th century Edo literary scene and the red light district of Yoshiwara where he was played charmingly by Nakamura Hayato. There was also an anime chronicling Heizo’s exploits.
Veteran actor Matsudaira Ken stands out as Heizo’s former dojo instructor. The most important female character, Ofusa, is played well by Hara Sachie (elder) and Kikuchi Hinako (younger). Without their humane performances, the narrative would have fallen flat.
A good ONIHEI story will transport you to a bygone era of Tokyo where responsible investigators ferret out criminal intent in much the way countless Sherlock Holmes adaptations take you to Victorian and Edwardian London. LAWLESS LOVE succeeds in this, despite a narrative that feels more slice of life than edge of your seat.
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