Contains Spoilers Mix of documentary and black farce. An indictment of Japanese prejudicial attitudes toward Koreans. Oshima based his Film on an actual incident in which a young Korean was accused of raping and murdering two Japanese schoolgirls (one in the Film), found guilty, and hung (Japan's method of capital punishment). When the student fails to die when hanged, his executioners set about re-creating the crime, each official plays a part, in order to prove to the young man that he is guilty. They eventually identify with the roles they have assumed. Ultimately, even the film's audience is implicated in the student's death.
As the Film opens a narrator asks "Are you for or against the death penalty?" For those in favor he goes through an explanation of what happens in the death house. As this is being given, the execution of prisoner "R" is being played out. When "R" is alive more than 20 minutes after he was hung the officials are at a loss as to what to do. The hanging is halted while the officials debate, and an unconscious "R" regains consciousness. However, "R" does not remember who he is, and the officials can't execute him unless they can once again prove to him that he is the man convicted of the rape and murder.
In an attempt to convince the prisoner, the officials present (including officers, guards, and a doctor) decide to re-enact the crime, and later "R's" home life. We learn that "R" (who plays himself in the reenactments) is the poor son of a deaf/dumb mother and alcoholic father, who was kind to his younger sisters. This reenactment is suddenly stopped by one of the officials who decides it is out of place because such information was not included in the court records. The move to the recreation of the first crime, committed at Komatsugawa High School. "R" is told how to perform the killing and he does so. . .but not fast enough. to speed things up the education officer steps in and finishes the girl off. Back on death row there is a casket containing the dead girl (whom some of the officials can see and some cannot) who eventually wakes up, gets out of the casket and claims to be "R's" older sister. The education officer claims that "R" didn't have an older sister.
The next section of the Film is taken over by "R's" sister who opposes capital punishment, is proud of her Korean heritage and a vehement critic of Japanese imperialism. Eventually, the prosecutor (who cannot see her) decides she is trespassing and has her hung. In the next scene, she is lying in her brother's arms (beneath a Japanese flag) having a discussion about "desire and imagination" while the officials sit around them drinking and singing. "R" now admits he is "R" and the officials want to proceed, however, "R" argues that he is a different "R" than they hung previously. He refuses to recognize the nation's right to kill people when killing itself is wrong. The prosecutor decides to let him go, but when "R" tries to leave he is met by a blinding light and cannot continue. He returns and allows himself to be hanged. When we see the swinging noose however it is empty. The narrator thanks the officials and audience for the participation in the execution.
As the Film opens a narrator asks "Are you for or against the death penalty?" For those in favor he goes through an explanation of what happens in the death house. As this is being given, the execution of prisoner "R" is being played out. When "R" is alive more than 20 minutes after he was hung the officials are at a loss as to what to do. The hanging is halted while the officials debate, and an unconscious "R" regains consciousness. However, "R" does not remember who he is, and the officials can't execute him unless they can once again prove to him that he is the man convicted of the rape and murder.
In an attempt to convince the prisoner, the officials present (including officers, guards, and a doctor) decide to re-enact the crime, and later "R's" home life. We learn that "R" (who plays himself in the reenactments) is the poor son of a deaf/dumb mother and alcoholic father, who was kind to his younger sisters. This reenactment is suddenly stopped by one of the officials who decides it is out of place because such information was not included in the court records. The move to the recreation of the first crime, committed at Komatsugawa High School. "R" is told how to perform the killing and he does so. . .but not fast enough. to speed things up the education officer steps in and finishes the girl off. Back on death row there is a casket containing the dead girl (whom some of the officials can see and some cannot) who eventually wakes up, gets out of the casket and claims to be "R's" older sister. The education officer claims that "R" didn't have an older sister.
The next section of the Film is taken over by "R's" sister who opposes capital punishment, is proud of her Korean heritage and a vehement critic of Japanese imperialism. Eventually, the prosecutor (who cannot see her) decides she is trespassing and has her hung. In the next scene, she is lying in her brother's arms (beneath a Japanese flag) having a discussion about "desire and imagination" while the officials sit around them drinking and singing. "R" now admits he is "R" and the officials want to proceed, however, "R" argues that he is a different "R" than they hung previously. He refuses to recognize the nation's right to kill people when killing itself is wrong. The prosecutor decides to let him go, but when "R" tries to leave he is met by a blinding light and cannot continue. He returns and allows himself to be hanged. When we see the swinging noose however it is empty. The narrator thanks the officials and audience for the participation in the execution.