If you want to read my review of Prior Convictions, read this post. In 前科者, Kayo Agawa helps rehabilitate ex-convicts by working as a probation officer. One of her supervisees is a convicted murderer, and at the same time he disappears, serial murders are being committed.
Kayo Agawa (Kasumi Arimura) didn’t have a very eventful personal life. She works at a convenience store and voluntarily supervises ex-convicts as a probation officer in Tokyo.
“If you don’t pay, that’s skipping the bill. Your parole will be revoked. Back to prison for you.”
Makoto Kudo (Go Morita) has been sentenced for murder and is up for parole. He progressed through his sentence, was released from prison, and met his probation officer for the next six months, Kayo Agawa.
“You must report me twice a month. Report me here, at my home. If you’re unable to come, please, contact me. Avoid people and places that lead you astray.”
Kayo-chan’s greatest pleasure was witnessing an ex-convict being rehabilitated and rejoining society. The reality is, she has been through a lot in the past. Therefore, she understood how difficult it was for an ex-convict to rehabilitate himself.
Prior Convictions: japanese movie review
Volunteer probation officers help with rehabilitation to prevent crime. They are part-time civil servants. But, they are not paid.
Makoto Kudo had his mother, Yukie Tôyama (Yuko Nakamura) murdered by his stepfather when he was a child. With that, he went to an orphanage with his younger brother, Minoru Kudo (Ryûya Wakaba), moved several times to many foster homes and, at the age of 24, got a job.
For 4 years, he endured the bullying he suffered from seniors who even stole his hearing aids. The trigger for the murder he committed was what one of the veterans said.
“Your life ain’t worth shit. You should’ve got killed like your mother.”
Kayo-chan is a tough woman with ex-convicts who try to bend the parole rules. However, she is very fair and dedicated with the assistance offered by the State to convicts. She believes that is possible and does what she can for the rehabilitation of the ex-cons.
“So, during these six months, please, be honest with yourself.”
Being honest with himself was Makoto Kudo’s biggest fear. He couldn’t even remember the moment he stabbed his co-worker. When he found himself, the victim was already lying on the ground.
“Can a murderer really be rehabilitated?”
With just a few weeks left for Kudo-san to complete his six months of probation, he disappears and people connected to his past begin to be executed in a series of murders and Kayo-chan, believing that he has been recovered, will do everything to prove his innocence.
Reviewing Prior Convictions: serial murders
Shinji Takimoto (Hayato Isomura) was Kayo-chan’s classmate and the two had a teenage relationship. He is the police officer in charge of investigating the murders that were taking place and Kudo-san’s connection to the victims.
First, a Police Sergeant in Ōta City (大田区) had his gun stolen and got shot. He didn’t do anything when Yukie Tôyama filed a domestic violence complaint. Afterwards, a social worker was shot dead in the head in Kamata (蒲田). It was through her that Kudo-san’s stepfather found out Yukie Tôyama new address. The murder site.
In addition to these two victims, The third victim was an orphanage employee who tortured and addicted the children to antipsychotics, anxiolytics and other medications used to calm traumatized and disturbed people. Who will be the fourth victim?
Why you should watch Prior Convictions
I won’t leave Prior Convictions ending explained or a download link here, but this Japanese film raises a very pertinent discussion. Is it possible to recover a prisoner for homicide and re-enter society? Often, the prison system makes the detainee’s behavior worse. Mainly, in underdeveloped countries where the system is faulty and badly executed.
I don’t have an answer to that and I don’t even think it’s a “yes” or a “no”. There are many shades of gray on this issue. Homicide itself can be culpable, when there is no intention to kill, heinous, when there is intention to kill, and passionate, when committed out of feeling.
Prior Convictions trailer
I really feel that you will like this one. So I decided to do this Zenkamono review. Go ahead, immerse yourself in the story, the environment and the soundtrack.
And come back later to tell me what you think in the comments. This Japanese movie raises a very pertinent discussion.
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