BATTLE ROYALE

Year: 2000
UK: Metro Tartan Distribution
Cast: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda, Taro Yamamoto, 'Beat' Takeshi Kitano, Masanobu Ando, Kou Shibasaki, Chiaki Kuriyama
Director: Kinji Fukasaku
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese (English subtitles)
UK: 113 mins
UK Certificate: 18 contains frequent strong violence and some strong language
UK Release Date: 14 September 2001


Synopsis

Japan at the dawn of a new millennium. The country is in a state of chaos, violence by rebellious teenagers has spiralled out of control. The government's response is Battle Royale: new legislation which requires a school class to be picked at random and sent to a deserted island to battle each other to death. The rules are simple: the participants will be provided with food, water and a weapon, Battle Royale lasts three days and there can be only one survivor.

Already dubbed one of the most provocative, intelligent and visceral movies of the year, this bloody romp caused a sensation when it premiered in Japan. Helmed by veteran director Kinji Fukasaku, Battle Royale is based upon both Takami Koshun's popular novel and the director's own experiences in World War II. The end result is violent, surreal and often very funny.

Fujiwara Tatsuya, Maeda Aki, Yamamoto Taro, Ando Masanobu all star, as does the legendary "Beat" Takeshi Kitano.