Eiji (Tatsuya Fujiwara) and Sabu (Satoshi Tsumabuki) have been friends ever since they were children. When Eiji is accused of stealing a swatch of very expensive gold cloth, his life and the lives of those who care about him are thrown into disarray. Eiji is sentenced to a work camp and Sabu is forbidden to even ask about his best friend’s whereabouts, under penalty of losing his job. Osue (Kazue Fukiishi), Eiji’s betrothed, visits Eiji in the work camp where he insists that he was framed and he tells her to give up on him for he is dedicating his life to getting revenge for his damaged honor.

Life in the prison camp is especially difficult for Eiji who fights daily with his fellow inmates. The situation worsens when three new violent inmates show up, led by Giichi (Kenichi Endo), and make trouble for everyone. Later, when a violent storm threatens to destroy the work camp and the island it sits on, the prisoners and the jailers must band together in order to survive. Meanwhile, the distraught Sabu discovers the truth behind Eiji’s supposed crime.

Takashi Miike (Ichi The Killer, Shinjuku Triad Society) directs Sabu, a beautifully shot television film. Once again, Miike shows that he is adept at almost every genre he undertakes, especially when he tackles several genres in one film. In Sabu, however, there is none of the usual hyperactivity of many of his films. In fact, there are only a few touches that keep this film from feeling like a different director entirely.

The cast is particularly good and are able to handle scenes that are incredibly dynamic. There are moments in the work camp that are tragic, funny, and tense, all at the same time. Tatsuya Fujiwara (Battle Royale) does a decent job as the brooding and stubborn Eiji and the engaging Tomoko Tabata plays Nobuko, the girl whose memories frame the story of Sabu, exceptionally.

Oddly enough, the character the film is named for is the least interesting. I find Eiji’s life in prison to be much more fascinating than Sabu’s travails in the outside world. The film could have easily been improved by a more significant storyline for Sabu to follow. Without enough development, he comes off as a sycophantic crybaby, albeit a heroic one. It’s not that Satoshi Tsumabuki (Tomie: Re-Birth) is a poor actor, it’s just that there seems to be something missing from the plot but nothing detrimental to the film’s quality.

This film works as a period piece and this film works as a very subdued Miike film. There is a surprising lack of rocket launchers and women giving birth to full-grown yakuza here. Followers of this prolific and unclassifiable director should see Sabu in order to understand the scope of his work. The film may be a Jidaigeki (period piece) but it unfolds quickly for a pop audience. It moves quickly, even at 120+ minutes, and the main actors are very attractive so the film can be viewed as Jidaigeki Lite or Masterpop Theatre.

DVD Stuff

Sabu looks gorgeous in its 1.78:1 aspect ratio and sounds great too in its Dolby Surround Sound. The film is in Japanese with optional English subtitles. The extras kick in with Bio/Filmographies of actors and crew. There is a very thorough "Making Of Sabu" feature plus there are interviews with actors Satoshi Tsumabuki, Tatsuya Fujiwara, Tomoko Tabata, and Kazue Fukiishi. There are also two interviews with Takashi Miike. The disc has the somewhat odd original TV trailer, promotional materials, poster artwork, and the movie trailer as well.