It is the near future in Japan. Society is breaking down as the economy worsens and the youth of the day have lost any vestigial respect for their elders, something that has always been a pillar of society in Japan.
The government goes for a drastic solution, they pass the Battle Royale law. One high school class is chosen by an impartial lottery to be shipped off to an island where they have to fight to the death leaving only one survivor. This will show that the people of Japan will no longer take lightly the tide of growing juvenile law-breaking.
The film follows one such class who have been chosen to participate in the latest Battle Royale. They were told they were going on an end-of-year school trip and were given a drink drugged with a sedative. When they awoke they found themselves on the island.
The film concentrates on the relationships between the pupils as they battle their incomprehension at their predicament and then when the battle starts their strategies of survival when it becomes clear that any dissent towards the whole scheme is punished.
This is where the film scores highly as the viewer comes to see each classmate as an individual with motives, memories, wishes, hopes and fears unique to themselves. Some of the class resort to confrontation and killing without mercy while others try to co-operate. Of course for some people it is a chance to settle scores while others just want to reminisce about the good old days and others want to act out their fantasies. Unbeknown to the class, there are a couple of jokers in the pack including one psychotically inclined person who has decided to go on the scheme for fun and indeed has an advantage over the rest of the class in the weapon assigned to him.
The atmosphere of the film is indeed manic and panic-driven and the person in charge of the scheme, a laconic PE teacher type reminds me in an odd way of Brian Glover's role in Kes! However, there are a couple of quibbles. If the Battle has extensive media coverage how come the classmates appear to have never heard of it? And has this legislation had the desired effect? Still quibbles aside I enjoyed watching this film especially for the way it combined violence and poignancy at the same time!
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Good review. I was shocked when I watched this film, its was so brutal! Great storyline and death scenes though! I loved it. You should watch other Japanese films - there are some great ones! Luv Sarah x
Sean_lawston 22.11.2002 16:23
Actually, I don't think the BR scheme does have extensive media coverage. I don't remember anything in the film about that.
With the Japanese currently leading the way in thought-provoking cinematic violence its ... more
only fitting that Kenta FukasakusBattle Royaleis being touted asA Clockwork Orangefor the 21st century. Based on the novel by Koshun Takami, the film opens with a s...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
At the dawn of the new millennium, Japan is in a state of near-collapse. Unemployment is ... more
at an all-time high, and violence amongst the nation's youth is spiraling out of control. With school children boycotting their lessons and physically abusing thei...
With the Japanese currently leading the way in thought-provoking cinematic violence its ... more
only fitting that Kenta FukasakusBattle Royaleis being touted asA Clockwork Orangefor the 21st century. Based on the novel by Koshun Takami, the film opens with a s...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 3 to 4 weeks...
At the dawn of the new millennium Japan is in a state of near-collapse. Unemployment is ... more
at an all-time high and violence amongst the nation's youth is spiralling out of control. With school children boycotting their lessons and physically abusing the...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
![Battle Royale [DVD] [2001]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78522790.jpg "Battle Royale [DVD] [2001]")
Nov 22nd, 2002
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