CS Weekly Archive > DVD of the Day > 03/10/06

Borrowing to Be Original

by scott castle

Shinobu Hashimoto, Eijirô Hisaita, Ryuzo Kikushima, Hideo Oguni

Detailing Koichi Nishi's (Toshirô Mifune) scheme to expose a scandal in 1950s Japan, The Bad Sleep Well combines plot elements from Hamlet, the stylings of film noir, and a satirical edge aimed at corporate misconduct to create a satisfyingly original tragedy. Dishing out necessary up-front exposition via a parade of reporters, the story quickly accelerates into a maze of assumed identities, vengeance plots, and leveraged betrayals that culminate in an ending that owes much to its dramatic precursors. Throughout the piece, pathos and enmity are alternately built for the stoic protagonist by endearing the audience to his bride (Kyôko Kagawa), an unsuspecting but beloved pawn in his scheme. While the anti-business theme cuts without remorse, the Shakespearian underpinnings foretell a bloody end for Kurosawa's stab at the European revenge genre. A Japanese documentary interviews a number of writers who worked on the film and offers insight into the team's process.

The Bad Sleep Well (The Criterion Collection)

The Criterion Collection
Not rated; 150 min.
$29.95

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Scott Castle is one thesis shy of a master's degree in film. He's written two short films, four television scripts, and a handful of short stories. He lives in Los Angeles.

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