Death by Hanging (1968)

☆ ☆ ☆ ½

Death by Hanging (1968) – N. Oshima

Oshima’s searing attack on the death penalty begins in stark documentary style, showing us the prison facilities involved in “death by hanging” and the steps taken in an individual execution.  This feels almost like a horror movie, especially when the hanging is unsuccessful and the prisoner lives.  Then, gradually Oshima reveals that his movie is really a dark farce, as the prison officials and chaplain begin to argue about how to proceed.  Should they hang the prisoner a second time or is that prohibited?  They decide that this is only possible if his mental faculties return and he can again appreciate his own guilt.  To make sure this happens, they act out his crimes (rape and murder of two teenage girls).  The film is now even more horrifying.  Gradually, Oshima begins to offer Brechtian/Godardian didactic statements in inter-titles and from a number of different characters.  The focus might have been on the death penalty but soon we are further afield, with a particular emphasis on the prejudice directed toward Korean-Japanese (the prisoner is one) by the Japanese majority. Further still, we are treated to imaginary fantasies (of collective guilt) and characters who appear and disappear from view in the execution chamber.  And then, unfortunately, the viewer gets quite lost.  However, for much of its length this is a potent and powerful and very dark critique of an unjust and barbaric punishment that still exists even to this day (and should not).