A cold look at the social hierarchy in Japan under the guise of a murder mystery. Tanaka (Satoshi Tsumabuki) is an investigative journalist who specializes in articles about murders. He has become obsessed with a case from a year before, where a family of three was brutally killed, and sets out to interview people close to the victims. The mystery takes an immediate back seat to social commentary as we are treated to a series of flashbacks that piece together the relationships of the victims with their university friends.

Tanaka’s sister, Mitsuko, (Hikari Mitsushima) has been arrested for child neglect, she seems to be working through some kind of trauma from her past. Tanaka’s obsession with his story seems to be connected somehow to his sister’s incarceration. Perhaps he just needs the distraction.

A film told through flashbacks has a danger of being cloying or melodramatic, but first time director Kei Ishikawa manages to avoid this by keeping a distance between the audience and the subject. If you watch the trailer for this film, you will go in expecting a thriller, but there is not a single thrilling moment in Gukoroku. Tension remains low through much of the film and even the somewhat obvious plot twists are somehow presented with no fanfare whatsoever.

I feel this is the strength of the film. The focus on Japanese social status and hierarchy helps it stand out from the slew of similar films that are produced on a yearly basis in Japan. Ishikawa’s keen sense of Japanese double speak and body language provide for some really great gut punch moments. The film falters in it’s final act when Ishikawa struggles to keep all the plates spinning. There is an unfortunate kitchen sink approach to the final act of this film that may have worked in a real thriller, but feels out of place in a drama so seriously focused on a class system in Japan.

Gukoroku is a good film. A strong debut and Ishikawa’s European background and seemingly deep connections, (considering the pedigree of his cast) tells me that we will probably be seeing some interesting films coming from this guy in the near future.