Filmmaker Seijun Suzuki passed away on February 13, 2017. In this new entry for Heading East, it was only fitting that I covered one of his best known works, Branded to Kill. This was my first time watching the film in years and I still remember the mark it left, it being an introduction to yakuza films for me. My fondness of Suzuki’s piece has remained intact. Even if it wasn't my favourite, it was a nice entry point into one of the most fascinating careers of that time period. Branded to Kill proves itself as one of the finest examples of the gangster film, a staple for all of yakuza films in general.

In Branded to Kill, we have the story of Goro Hanada, a hitman who has an odd fetish with boiling rice. On his latest job, he ends up making a critical mistake that makes him a target. As he's being chased by another assassin known as Number One, he runs into a mysterious woman who has a penchant for deceased butterflies and birds. As we watch Goro on the run, we see Suzuki’s mastery behind the camera at its most exciting.

It's easy to tell apart a Suzuki film from anything else when you see his approach in contrast to many other Japanese New Wave films. For starters, his films resemble B-movies. They still tell stories that maintain an incredibly playful nature that also feel so inviting for any viewer. With Branded to Kill we have the elements to make a solid B-movie but what’s most admirable about an effort like this is it utilizes his campy aesthetic in order to liven things up. At only 98 minutes, Branded to Kill is a breeze, but it’s always engaging.