Takeshi Kitano’s ‘Broken Rage’ Makes Streaming Debut with Prime Video
Prime Video in February gave a worldwide premiere to “Broken Rage,” the latest feature film from acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Takeshi Kitano.
The genre-hybrid project, both directed by and starring Kitano, takes an innovative approach by splitting its runtime into two separate segments. The first half delivers a gritty crime thriller about an assassin caught between law enforcement and yakuza forces, while the second part reimagines the same story through a comedic lens using self-parody techniques.
The streamer has assembled a powerhouse cast led by Golden Globe winner Tadanobu Asano (“Shogun”), marking his third collaboration with Kitano after “Zatōichi” (2003) and “Kubi” (2023). He is joined by Nao Omori, who makes “Broken Rage” his sixth Kitano project after memorable turns in “Dolls” (2002), “Achilles and the Tortoise” (2008), “Outrage Coda” (2017) and “Kubi ” (2023).
The yakuza hierarchy consists of Shidō Nakamura, fresh off his Kitano debut in “Kubi” (2023), and veteran collaborator Hakuryu. The expanded ensemble includes Takashi Nishina, Shohei Uno, Shoken Kunimoto, Masato Yano, Shiro Maeda, Jun Akiyama and a fresh injection of comedic talent with Gekidan Hitori, Masanori Hasegawa, Azusa Babazono and Mogura Suzuki making their Kitano film debut. Composer Shinya Kiyozuka provides the score.
The film, which Kitano himself describes as an “experimental endeavor,” explores his conceptual interest in finding “comedy in a violent film.” Following its out-of-competition screening at the 2024 Venice Film Festival, “Broken Rage” represents a milestone as the first Japanese streaming-exclusive production to receive an official selection at the prestigious festival.
The film debuts worldwide on Prime Video on February 13. The film will be released simultaneously in more than 240 countries and territories around the world as part of the streaming platform’s continued push for original international content.
