Deadly Fight in Hiroshima is the second in the late Kinji Fukasaku’s epic quintology series of films, about lives led in the society of the Yakuza. Like it’s predecessor, the film focuses one main protagonist for whom sympathy is supposed to be felt. In this case, it’s the turn of Sonny Chiba as Yamanaka; a naive young punk who fumbles his way to glory.

Bunta Sugawara makes a moderate appearence as the ever casual Shozo; now having left the bitter Yamamori clan to set up his own “family”. His family, however, deals in scrap metal – they’re not really thugs either, and get by as and when they can. In one scene, in order to save money, and feeling hungry, the others decide to give Shozo a little Korean style meal. The scene where the dog is captured seems, even for it’s time, quite brutal; though it wouldn’t surprise me if the art of getting the right show overwhelmed the morality of being kind to animals.

Shozo is intertwined in the life of Yamanaka through a series of confusing instances, and the two form a loose friendship, meeting each other now and again. In truth, Deadly Battle in Hiroshima feels rather weak compared to the powerful performances and dramatic tension felt in Battles Without Honor and Humanity. Sidelining Sugawara’s character makes the film feel much weaker, even if the star attraction of Sonny Chiba was the draw.

At times it feels as though this is simply a rehash; a way to continue the story by mixing the old ideas, and throwing in some progression. Years have passed since the events of the first film, and there is a war going on between the main family (Murokawa’s) and the subordinates (Otomo).

You can already guess the similarity between the first two films, as is the role of Sonny Chiba being the man who ends up doing all the dirty work. Filmed with much more realism, but also more chaos, it feels difficult to empathise with Yamanaka. On the one hand, he is a moron and follows orders because he doesn’t know any better; but could he be so dense as not to tell the difference between truth and fiction?

When you know drugloards and clan leaders, it’s easier to bust them if you know where they are

Many scenes are recreated, such as the first kill, the offer of retribution and punishment and so on. It becomes tiresome at times, and you really just want the story to progress. After watching the first film, the only person that interests you is the character of Shozo, and whether he will take over the fmaily that betrayed him; the Yamamori’s.

He is credited as being the future head, so it’s probable that we know the outcome, but it’s a case of how we get there. Deadly Battle in Hiroshima at least manages this well enough, and the small tid bits of where the story is going starts to become apparent – we also begin to understand, and really like the anti-hero in Shozo. He may seem calm, but he’s calculating something bigger, and he knows how to get it.

Unlike the first film, the performances and the characters don’t seem so significant. The comaradery and jovial friendship, which turns to bitter entanglement and internal betrayal is sorely missed here. There is betrayal, but it’s not emphasised much, and therefore feels very passing in its importance.

I did like the film, but not as much as I hoped. The film certainly focuses more on the love between Yamanaka and his widowed-girlfriend (who happens to be the neice of Mourakwa). With Murokawa, he doesn’t seem all that evil or cunning, until the very last scene and Shozo figures things out. The ending is poignant and important, because there’s an unspoken message in the scenes that are potrayed.

At times it feels as though this is simply a rehash; a way to continue the story by mixing the old ideas, and throwing in some progression

The post-war Police are as corrupt as the Police seem to be these days; taking money for favours, but returning with belittling and their own ambitions to get to the top. When you know drugloards and clan leaders, it’s easier to bust them if you know where they are. So, a new battle is forming and this will no doubt take the form of further volumes in this series. The cops in this are as evil as they Yakuza themselves, double-crossing and back-stabbing like it was a sport. Heavy handed tactics are not lightened due to favouritism, and the cops do play a much more significant factor than previous.

Overall then, I feel Deadly Fight in Hiroshima is a bit of a let down after the stellar quality of the first film. In doesn’t achieve the same level of tension, fear, gripping drama, conpiracy or betrayal. The performances and the importance of the characters is a lot weaker than before, and the focus a singular character for almost all the movie is hard to take, as the script isn’t strong enough to carry through the character. There are some disturbing scenes, as with the first, but there is always in context and not done for glory or visual awe. Sonny Chiba is actually very good in his performance, it’s just a shame is character is better developed or rounded. This is a good film, it’s just not great.

Verdict: A weaker sibling after the jaw-dropping brilliance of the first film. Recommended, but be prepared for some disappointment.