KENKI (Neue Blicke auf die japanische Filmgeschichte)

In the organizer's words:

Sat 12.10., 20h, with an introduction by Lukas Foerster & Sat 19.10., 21:15h
KENKI The Sword-Devil Kenji Misumi Japan 1965 35 mm jap. OmeU 83'
A killer who dreams of colorful flower meadows: KENKI focuses on an unusual hero. Hanpei is a mild-mannered gardener who is at the bottom of the social hierarchy and a popular target of jokes. Yet he has a secret ability: just by watching, he is able to acquire physical skills and becomes a gifted swordsman. Without wanting to, he becomes a contract killer at his intriguing court, even though everyone thinks this is impossible: "Someone who loves flowers cannot kill." While the comic elements initially predominate in the third part of the sword trilogy, they soon give way to the tragic realization that he will achieve nothing through violence.