Returning from a ten-year prison sentence, former gang leader Gunji (Koji Tsuruta, Big Time Gambling Boss) finds that his turf has been taken over by his former enemy, now a large crime syndicate with a legal corporate front. Looking for new opportunities, he gathers his old crew and heads for the island of Okinawa, a legal grey zone ripe for the taking. Made just before Kinji (Yakuza Graveyard) Fukasaku’s 1970s streak of yakuza movie masterpieces, Sympathy for the Underdog is a key film in the development of this director’s unique style and themes.

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Video Quality

Sympathy For The Underdog debuts on Blu-Ray courtesy of Radiance Films sourced from an admirable high definition master provided by Toei in the original 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The color timing seems to mostly be natural to the intention of the filmmaker, but a handful of odd fluctuations show some variance. While far from a Technicolor spectacle, hues show up on the screen with great depth, notably in elements of the locales and production design. Black levels hold up well enough with some vital depth to the image.

This source appears to be in excellent shape with no deal-breaking damage to be found in this presentation and only minor instances of dirt and specks. The film serves up a pretty nice, natural grain structure that retains the filmic look of the picture, always resolving consistently while showcasing tremendous details in the multitude of environments. A handful of shots contain apparent softness, but this is an exception rather than the rule. Despite minor room for improvement, this is a strong effort from the label.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with an LPCM 2.0 Master Audio mono track in the original Japanese (with optional English subtitles). This track presents everything favorably with rich fidelity and only the smallest amount of hiss and distortion in the peaks. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear without sound effects or the score overshadowing important information. The film features a lot of dialogue, but it knows how to spring to life when the narrative gets more chaotic. During these times, the track responds with the appropriate weight within the mix. The score comes through well in relation to the competing sounds, but some notes can sound a bit bright. Radiance Films makes a good showing in this department.

Special Features

The first-pressing of the Radiance Films Blu-Ray of Sympathy For The Underdog includes a booklet featuring new writing by Bastian Meiresonne and an archival review of the film. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Audio Commentary: Yakuza film expert Nathan Stuart provides an informative commentary track in which he discusses the style of Kinji Fukasaku, how this serves as a transitional film in the yakuza genre, the structure of the narrative, the performances in the film, how the script was reworked, and much more that is worth a listen.

Olivier Hadouchi: A new 27-minute analysis of the film by Fukasaku biographer Olivier Hadouchi in which he discusses the career of director Kinji Fukasaku, how this film stands apart in his output, the way the film acts as a response to the changing world, the stylistic flourishes in the film, how the film fits into the mood of society at the time it was released and more.

That Distant Territory: A 26-minute visual essay in which film historian and author Aaron Gerow dives into the place of Japanese cinema in the global landscape, the depiction of Okinawa on film, how different filmmakers showcase the territory, and more that is enlightening.

Trailer: The three-minute trailer is provided here.

Final Thoughts

Sympathy For The Underdog is an entertaining yakuza film that structures its narrative in a compelling manner that recalls some future masters. This familiar structure may prove to be an effective gateway to get audiences invested in this tale of violent power struggles and self-reflection. The ensemble is very good across the board, and the direction from Kinji Fukasaku can’t be beaten. Radiance Films has released a Blu-Ray featuring a stellar A/V presentation and a few worthwhile special features. If you are looking to get into yakuza films, this one could be a good starting point. Recommended

Sympathy For The Underdog is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Radiance Films has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.