Amazing cast - as this is a remake on the anniversary of the original 1984 movie.
Some research notes to share if one would like to give the Special a chance:
1) This is a Special created at the 20th anniversary of the 1984 movie Kuroi Fukuin. As with Japanese remakes, especially ones produced as a special, on the anniversary of famous novels/movies in the past, producers often want to be respectful of the original novel and movie. **It is recommended that one understands the story, NOT with a "2014 lens", but a much more dated lens.
2) The original novel, Black Gospel (黒い福音, Kuroi Fukuin) was published in post-war Japan, 1961. The author Seichō Matsumoto (松本 清張, Matsumoto Seichō) was born on December 21, 1909, and lived through both World Wars. Following his graduation from elementary school, Seichō found employment at a utility company. As an adult he designed layouts for the Asahi Shinbun in Kyushu. His work in the advertising department was interrupted by service in World War II. A medical corpsman, Seichō spent much of the war in Korea. He resumed work at the Asahi Shinbun after the war, transferring to the Tokyo office in 1950. His works often reflect a wider social context and postwar nihilism that expanded the scope and further darkened the atmosphere of the genre. His exposé of corruption among police officials as well as criminals was a new addition to the field of Japanese crime fiction. The subject of investigation was not just the crime but also the society in which the crime was committed. **Please try to "read" the storyline in a similar way with how one might appreciate asadoras (e.g. Oshin, Gochisōsan) which often depict post-World War II Japanese lives.
3) The novel was loosely based off unsolved true crimes dated in 1959. A Japanese lady working as a flight attendant for British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) was found dead under the bridge in a river in March 1959. A Belgian Catholic priest who was her ex-boyfriend was considered a person of interest and possible suspect, but he suddenly went back to Belgium in June that year. **1959, given the times, mystery/crime genre lovers should have certain expectations of how police investigations were conducted in those times. Please have certain expectations of human psychologies in those times as the novel, i.e. original story (set in 1959) stay true to the settings/background.
Some research notes to share if one would like to give the Special a chance:
1) This is a Special created at the 20th anniversary of the 1984 movie Kuroi Fukuin.
As with Japanese remakes, especially ones produced as a special, on the anniversary of famous novels/movies in the past, producers often want to be respectful of the original novel and movie.
**It is recommended that one understands the story, NOT with a "2014 lens", but a much more dated lens.
2) The original novel, Black Gospel (黒い福音, Kuroi Fukuin) was published in post-war Japan, 1961.
The author Seichō Matsumoto (松本 清張, Matsumoto Seichō) was born on December 21, 1909, and lived through both World Wars. Following his graduation from elementary school, Seichō found employment at a utility company. As an adult he designed layouts for the Asahi Shinbun in Kyushu. His work in the advertising department was interrupted by service in World War II. A medical corpsman, Seichō spent much of the war in Korea. He resumed work at the Asahi Shinbun after the war, transferring to the Tokyo office in 1950.
His works often reflect a wider social context and postwar nihilism that expanded the scope and further darkened the atmosphere of the genre. His exposé of corruption among police officials as well as criminals was a new addition to the field of Japanese crime fiction. The subject of investigation was not just the crime but also the society in which the crime was committed.
**Please try to "read" the storyline in a similar way with how one might appreciate asadoras (e.g. Oshin, Gochisōsan) which often depict post-World War II Japanese lives.
3) The novel was loosely based off unsolved true crimes dated in 1959.
A Japanese lady working as a flight attendant for British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) was found dead under the bridge in a river in March 1959. A Belgian Catholic priest who was her ex-boyfriend was considered a person of interest and possible suspect, but he suddenly went back to Belgium in June that year.
**1959, given the times, mystery/crime genre lovers should have certain expectations of how police investigations were conducted in those times. Please have certain expectations of human psychologies in those times as the novel, i.e. original story (set in 1959) stay true to the settings/background.