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IZO is a 2004 Japanese film, directed by Takashi Miike. The main character of the film is Izo Okada (1832–1865), the historical samurai and assassin in 19th century Japan who was tortured and executed by beheading in Tosa. Izo appeared previously in Hideo Gosha's Hitokiri (1969), then played by Shintaro Katsu. However, Miike's portrayal of the character (or rather his spirit) transcends reality (and time and space) and is more of a surrealist exposé of Izo's exceedingly bloody yet philosophical encounters in an afterlife heavy on symbolism, occasionally interrupted by stock footage of World War II accompanied by acid-folk singer Kazuki Tomokawa on guitar. Kazuya Nakayama plays Izo, and the countless characters he encounters on his journey include for instance Takeshi Kitano and Bob Sapp.
Original Release
09/07/2004
US Release
05/28/2005
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Kazuya Nakayama | Okada Izo |
Kaori Momoi | Saya |
Ryuhei Matsuda | His Highness |
Ryôsuke Miki | Hanpeita |
Yuya Uchida | Second Man |
Masumi Okada | Chief of the Palace |
Hiroki Matsukata | Yakuza Boss |
Hiroshi Katsuno | Samurai |
Masato | Ronin |
Bob Sapp | Monk |
Directors
Writers
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Kazuya Nakayama | Okada Izo |
Kaori Momoi | Saya |
Ryuhei Matsuda | His Highness |
Ryôsuke Miki | Hanpeita |
Yuya Uchida | Second Man |
Masumi Okada | Chief of the Palace |
Hiroki Matsukata | Yakuza Boss |
Hiroshi Katsuno | Samurai |
Masato | Ronin |
Bob Sapp | Monk |
Takeshi Kitano | Chancellor |
Daijiro Harada | Judge |
Taisaku Akino | |
Chisato Amate | |
Takeshi Caesar | Samurai |
Joe Cappelletti | Hanpeita |
Mickey Curtis | (as Mikkî Kâchisu) |
Ken'ichi Endô | Spearman torturing the crucified Izo |
Michael Forest | Samurai |
Jessica Gee-George | Izo's Mother |
Producers
Name | Role |
---|
Taizô Fukumaki | Producer |
Fujio Matsushima | Producer |
Kazuyoshi Okuyama | Producer |