Dokuritsu gurentai

Set in the frontlines of World War II China, this dynamic action film with a hard-boiled touch deals with the foolishness of war. War correspondent Araki heads toward a unit nicknamed "The Desperados". Seeking the truth behind a suicide incident, he negotiates with First Lieutenant Hashimoto and a group of bandits. Okamoto wrote the script using the concept of an outsider, and expanded upon it with thrilling action in the style of a Western. Sato Makoto demonstrates such fearless charm in his first starring role that his popularity propelled subsequent sequels to be made. (Berlinale)