Cult/ Battle Royale

Directed by Kinji Fukusaku

Presenting an alternate dystopian vision of turn-of-the-millennium Japan, Battle Royale follows the 42 junior high school students selected to take part in the government’s annual Battle Royale programme, established as an extreme method of addressing concerns about juvenile delinquency.

Dispatched to a remote island, they are each given individual weapons (ranging from Uzis and machetes to pan lids and binoculars); food and water; and the order to go out and kill one other. Every player is fitted with an explosive collar around their neck, imposing a strict three-day time limit on the deadly games in which there can only be one survivor. Overseeing the carnage is ‘Beat’ Takeshi Kitano (Sonatine, Hana-bi, Zatoichi) as the teacher pushed to the edge by his unruly charges.

4k Restoration

Duration:
138 minutes

Languages:
Japanese

Subtitles:
Full English

Country of origin:
Japan

Year of production:
2000