Izo

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IZO

Directed by	Takashi Miike
Produced by	Taizô Fukumaki Fujio Matsushima
Written by	Shigenori Takechi
Starring	Kazuya Nakayama Takeshi Kitano Bob Sapp
Release date(s)	2004
Running time	128 min.
Language	Japanese
IMDb profile

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 met a tragic end: he was tortured and crucified.

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.

Izo is argued by many to be Takashi Miike's best film.