Violent Cop

The story

Azuma, a police detective known for rough, unprofessional tactics, is assigned to investigate a case that connects drug trafficking, yakuza activity, and the possible involvement of a fellow officer. Takeshi Kitano is Azuma, pushing through the case with little regard for ethical lines or procedure, while Maiko Kawakami appears in the tense circle around him. Directed by Kitano, the 1989 film keeps its focus on blunt police work, criminal networks, and sudden eruptions of violence, with a stripped-down neo-noir style that would become central to his early filmmaking.