United Red Army

2007 3h 10m JA

😐

6.4

MID

★6.4TMDB · 32

DramaThrillerHistory

Synopsis

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Two of the most radical student groups form the United Red Army (URA) and head into the mountains to conduct a training camp. Ideology devolves into despotism, and the URA's leaders begin to arbitrarily persecute their followers, a harrowing ordeal that culminates in violence and murder.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Maki Sakai
Mieko Toyama
Arata Iura
Hiroshi Sakaguchi
Akie Namiki
Hiroko Nagata
Go Jibiki
Tsuneo Mori
Shima Onishi
Kunio Bando
Keigo Kasuya
Akiko Monou
Yuki Fujii

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Kōji Wakamatsu
Writers: Kōji Wakamatsu, Masayuki Kakegawa
Languages: Japanese
Countries: Japan

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

At 190 minutes, this is a three-hour-plus commitment — longer than 95% of films ever made.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $2.4M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 19 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Kōji Wakamatsu, shot by Tomohiko Tsuji. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Jim O'Rourke. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Kōji Wakamatsu shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Maki Sakai and Arata Iura and Akie Namiki carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0923869 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Kōji Wakamatsu directs. Tomohiko Tsuji behind the camera. Jim O'Rourke scores. Kōji Wakamatsu cuts. A long sit — settle in. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1At 190 minutes, this is a three-hour-plus commitment — longer than 95% of films ever made.
2Shot for just $2.4M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
3Released 19 years ago.
4Directed by Kōji Wakamatsu, shot by Tomohiko Tsuji. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Jim O'Rourke. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Kōji Wakamatsu shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Maki Sakai and Arata Iura and Akie Namiki carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0923869 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 32 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.