Level (1994)
A raw Japanese crime drama from director Tetsuya Matsushima, exploring the violent and morally complex world of the yakuza.
Level - Movie Information
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Level - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Tetsuya Matsushima
Main Cast
- Toru Nakamura
- Shiori Sakura
- Tomorowo Taguchi
- 呉めぐみ
- Kenichi Yajima
- Ryo Ishibashi
- Bengal
Writers
- Takoru Fukada
- Tetsuya Matsushima
Producers
- Haruo Umekawa
- Noboru Tsunoda
Level - FAQs
Who directed the 1994 Japanese film Level?
Level was directed by Tetsuya Matsushima, who also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Takoru Fukada. The film marked a notable entry in Japanese crime cinema of the early 1990s, drawing on the gritty yakuza genre that was thriving in Japan at the time.
Who are the main actors in Level (1994)?
The film features a strong ensemble cast led by Toru Nakamura and Ryo Ishibashi, both well-known faces in Japanese crime and action cinema. They're joined by Shiori Sakura, Tomorowo Taguchi, Kenichi Yajima, and Bengal, rounding out a compelling lineup.
What is Level (1994) about?
Level is a Japanese crime drama that plunges into the brutal world of the yakuza. Directed by Tetsuya Matsushima and produced by Image Factory, the film explores the violence, loyalty, and moral ambiguity that define life on the fringes of organized crime in 1990s Japan.
Is Level (1994) connected to yakuza cinema?
Absolutely. Level sits firmly within Japan's rich yakuza film tradition. Its themes of criminal hierarchy, street-level violence, and moral compromise echo classics of the genre. The film shares thematic DNA with works like Black Rain and First Love, making it a worthy entry in the canon.
What genre is Level (1994)?
Level is a crime drama — a combination that suits its yakuza subject matter perfectly. The film blends the tension and moral weight of crime storytelling with the character-driven depth of drama, offering more than just action as it examines the human cost of life in the underworld.
How long is the 1994 film Level?
Level runs for 84 minutes — a lean, focused runtime that keeps the story tight and propulsive. At just over an hour and twenty minutes, it doesn't overstay its welcome, delivering its crime drama with efficiency and purpose.
What are similar films to Level (1994)?
If Level appeals to you, explore other yakuza classics like Black Rain (1989), First Love (2019), Kids Return (1996), and Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima (1973). Rainy Dog (1997) and Graveyard of Honor (2002) are also excellent picks in the same vein.
When was Level released in Japan?
Level hit Japanese screens on November 26, 1994. It was produced by Image Factory and represents a slice of the vibrant, often raw Japanese crime film output of the mid-1990s — a period that produced some of the genre's most enduring works.
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