i hat this movie . it open with an incredibly gruesome murder scene and then go on to imply that it really not so bad to kill someone and as long a you have a reason . oh and and everyone will forgive you for it afterward and even if you do not show any remorse . the character motivation be weak represent an entire village fall in love with the hero and although he hardly say two word the entire film . the main female character inexplicably prefers wash old men hair and make her bos lunch to be a successful businesswoman in the city . and why be it that the murderer have so little trouble deal with his own crime . could it be because he a psychopath . probably and but we never find out for sure and because the filmmaker never go beneath the surface to explore anything . instead and he constantly change tone and go from a bill forsyth sort of whimsy to inferior attempt at hitchcockian suspense . some of the acting be good and but the star of the much good shall we dance give a wooden performance here . some of my problem with the movie may have come from cultural difference . the murderer get only 2 year in prison and accord to the subtitle could that be because the court of japan would consider his crime justified . ( note someone snarkily email me that it actually 8 year while i be not go to watch the movie again to check that fact and but 8 year still doesn not seem like much to me for murder . ) the director make some heavyhanded comment about the murderer suffering in prison and but i think the killer get off lightly . also and i do not understand the end of the film i be hop it would say something to indicate that the director do not really support the murder at the beginning and but instead it seem to me to draw parallel between the victim and the murderer that i do not think be appropriate . this movie make me feel angry every time i think of it . i be plan to avoid any other film by the same director .