Prolific producer Kadokawa Haruki (The Inugamis, Yamato) takes the director's post for the first time in 12 years with The Laughing Policeman. Based on the 1997 novel by Sasaki Jo, the film is a real life-inspired crime thriller about police corruption in Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido. Using a jazzy score and setting the story in the course of one night, The Laughing Policeman is a stylish police thriller reminiscent of classic film noir.
When the body of a policewoman is found, the police chief of Sapporo puts out a shoot-to-kill order on the victim's ex-boyfriend, Sergeant Tsukui (Miyasako Hiroyuki). Due to present evidence at a corruption hearing the following morning, Tsukui insists on his innocence and determinedly dodges the police with the help of colleague Yuri (Matsuyuki Yasuko). Meanwhile, Tsukui's former partner Saeki (Omori Nao) has his own doubts about the case and attempts to come up with a way to save Tsukui... |