Manhunt (1976) Kimi yo fundo no kawa wo watare | Region-Free (Blu-Ray) | Starring Ken Takakura

Title: In the Manhunt (1976)

Alternate Title: Kimi yo fundo no kawa wo watare

Genre: Crime, Thriller

Plot Synopsis:
A public prosecutor is falsely accused of corruption, robbery, and r4pe. He escapes custody and embarks on a mission to find evidence that will clear his name, all while being pursued relentlessly by the police. Along the way, he receives assistance from the beautiful daughter of a wealthy man.

Cast and Crew:

• Director: Junya Satō
• Writers: Juko Nishimura (novel), Kei Tasaka (screenplay)
• Cast:
  • Ken Takakura as Morioka
  • Yoshio Harada as Detective Yamura
  • Ryō Ikebe as Ito
  • Ryōko Nakano as Tonami Mariko
  • Hideji Ōtaki as Tonami Yoshinori

YouTube Trailer:
In the Manhunt (1976) | Trailer

IMDb Link:
In the Manhunt (1976)

Reviews from Letterboxd:

1. Thornhill – ★★★½☆
   “In Tony Scott’s ‘True Romance’ there’s a wonderful scene where Alabama watches the second part of John Woo’s ‘A Better Tomorrow’ in Clarence’s apartment. A subtle hint at the upcoming events and one of countless references from Quentin Tarantino’s vast film knowledge. The film is filled with obvious and often well-hidden homages and references from a hundred years of cinema history and pop culture. During a recent viewing, a beautiful movie poster caught my attention in the aforementioned scene. After a brief research, it turned out to be a film that was released in Germany in the early 80s under the title ‘Killer und Cop’…”
2. Ed Küpfer – ★★½☆
   “A prosecutor goes on the run after being framed for a couple of (actually very minor) crimes. I mean, it was just a ring and a camera that he was accused of stealing. That’s the level of crime that warrants a nationwide manhunt in Japan, I guess. Anyway, nothing particularly interesting happens over the course of the movie’s unconscionable two and a half hours, aside from a hilarious bear attack and an utterly bonkers score. If you’ve seen ‘The Fugitive’ then there’s no need to see this, unless you want to see the inspiration for John Woo’s also underwhelming remake from a few years ago.”
3. sezzz – ★★★½☆
   “John Woo’s latest film (which is available on Netflix) is a remake of this Japanese original from 1976. Harrison Ford’s ‘The Fugitive’ also borrowed heavily from this film. While it may feel a bit lengthy at times, the varied escape through half of Japan is still convincing, thanks in no small part to the great ensemble cast. A convincing action thriller from Japan, with a very satisfying payoff!”

Meta Description:
“In the Manhunt” (1976), also known as “Kimi yo fundo no kawa wo watare,” is a Japanese crime thriller directed by Junya Satō. The film follows a public prosecutor who, after being falsely accused of serious crimes, escapes and seeks to clear his name, receiving help from a wealthy man’s daughter.