Shield of Straw
An exorbitant prize awaits the one who is able to kill Kunihide Kiyomaru. An influential multi-millionaire suspects Kiyomaru of killing his beloved granddaughter and this is precisely the revenge he expects, by taking out an ad in the newspaper promising millions. In the face of death lurking around every corner, Kiyomaru decides to turn himself into the police. He prefers to face justice and spend the rest of his life in prison. A group of selected police officers must transport the condemned man to face trial in Tokyo, but thanks to the new world order designed by the multi-millionaire’s offer, no road is safe. Every citizen seems suspect – even those who are in uniform and tasked with protecting the criminal.
Takashi Miike
Takashi Miike graduated from the Yokohama Vocational School of Broadcast and Film. After graduation, he worked in television and eventually directed a several straight to video films. The breakthrough moment in his career and international fame arrived on the heels of Audition (1999), which was awarded the FIPRESCI and KNF Award at the Rotterdam Film Festival. This was the first film by the director to gain distribution in the U.S., making him one of the most sought-out creators as well as the only Japanese artist who was asked to film an episode for the television series Masters of Horror. Over the past 13 years, Miike has produced more than 60 films. His creativity was presented at New Horizons in 2005 within the framework of the Midnight Madness section.
Selected filmography
1999 Gra wstępna / Ôdishon / Audition
2003 Nieodebrane połączenie / Chakushin ari / One Missed Cal
2004 Izo
2010 13 zabójców / Jûsan-nin no shikaku / 13 Assassins
2007 Sukiyaki Western Django
2011 Harakiri: śmierć samuraja / Ichimei / Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai
2013 Słomiana tarcza / Wara no tate / Shield of Straw