The Brilliance of BATTLE ROYALE (2000) & BATTLE ROYALE II (2003)

By the year 2000, Kinji Fukasaku was known largely for his yakuza films like BATTLES WITHOUT HONOR AND HUMANITY (1973-1974), NEW BATTLES WITHOUT HONOR AND HUMANITY (1974-1976), and GRAVEYARD OF HONOR (1975). Having dabbled in a number of other genres including Horror and Period Drama, Fukasaku continued to steadily work until his passing in early 2003. His final completed film, BATTLE ROYALE (2000), served as his introduction to many in the English speaking world.

Based upon the novel of the same name by Koushun Takami, Kinji Fukasaku drew upon his lived experience as a youth living through World War II to craft one of his most striking films. As work began on its sequel, BATTLE ROYALE II: REQUIEM (2003), Fukasaku passed due to prostate cancer, leaving his son Kenta Fukasaku to complete the remainder of the film. This second film proved just as divisive in Japan and abroad as its predecessor, though for drastically different reasons.

Today, we discuss the history and impact of both of these films, as well as what they meant for Kinji Fukasaku's and Kenta Fukasaku's careers and lives.

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Sound Design:
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