Kōshōnin

Kōshōnin (交渉人) is a 2008 TV film directed by Takashi Miike. It was released in the United States under the title "The Negotiator"

Plot

Three unidentified men hold a group of people hostage in a hospital after doing a smaller crime. Inspector Ishida and Captain Tohno handle the negotiations while one of their colleagues, Lt. Ado, tries to find the reason why the men decided to take the hospital hostage. At first, Lt. Ado tries to think of the possibilities for this crime using the clever aid of Ishida, but he only reaches the solution to the puzzle later on and by himself. Relevant information is revealed to the audience through flashbacks and through discoveries made by the police. Several connections are made as the story develops. When the negotiations are finished, most things seem to be fine until they lose track of the criminals. Then, the story unveils with a different perspective, its roots in feelings of love and vengeance.

Cast

• Kenichi Endo as Convenience store clerk
• Masatō Ibu as Ishida's boss
• Renji Ishibashi as Counselor Kanemoto
• Hiroshi Mikami as Inspector Ishida
• Kumi Nakamura as Mrs. Ishida
• Shigemitsu Ogi
• Ryoko Yonekura
• Shirô Sano as Lt. Ando
• Yoji Tanaka
• Mayu Tsuruta as Capt. Maiko Tohno

Other credits

• Writing credits:
  • Takahisa Igarashi (novel Kôshônin)
  • Kota Yamada (screenplay)