Sêrâ-fuku to kikanjû

Okay piece, on the surface, this film resembles a standard yakuza or idol film. The film lacks the enticing violence of the yakuza genre and the self-absorbed camerawork of idol films, making it more like a teen coming of age tale.

It places a strong emphasis on a compelling story and a visually delectable range in cinematography. The story was very progressive for 1980s Japan, and the gang treated a woman like their Oyabun. At the forefront of the film is the incredible acting by pop idol Hiroko Yakushimaru, her performance throughout brings the film together.

Accompanying the illustrious score is impeccably expressive and technical cinematography, focusing on a beautiful mix of static, wide angle shots as well as long take aesthetic

Those who are expecting an adrenaline-fuelled action adventure may be disappointed. The film, as previously mentioned, is a teen coming-of-age tale with a bizarre underwater setting, rather than an urban crime drama, leaving the final product somewhat confusing for those who are unaware of its intentions.

It could receive a remake with another perspective of the work and would probably be successful with the public and the current zeitgeist.

Humorous satire of Japanese yakuza flicks in which Hiroko Yakushimaru plays the daughter of a yakuza oyabun (boss) who dies and leaves the clan to her. Unfortunately, the clan is not exactly top flight, as they drive around in old, backfiring cars, one member is, well, a little effeminate, and veteran actor Ken Takakura (Black Rain, Mr. Baseball are his two most recent American flicks) tries his best to keep Hiroko out of trouble. The scene with Hiroko when she sprays a room with machine gun fire and then exclaims "Kaikan"!! (roughly translated as "exciting" but perhaps in a physical sense) became somewhat famous in Japan at the time with people using the phrase in the same tone of voice as Hiroko. A funny and entertaining movie that I would definitely recommend to anyone who can understand Japanese (alas, there is no subtitled version).

Based on a novel by Jiro Akagawa that was published by Kadokawa publishing company, "Sera fuku to kikanjyu" (sailor uniform and machine gun) was also Kadokawa's (and then president Haruki Kadokawa's) first attempt at movie targeted for teens and young adults featuring also a teenager in the starring role.

Izumi Hoshi (Hiroko Yakushimaru) is a normal high school student, until one day a horde of yazuka shows up at the gate of her school. Unbeknownst to her, her father was the head of a "Medaka Gumi" yakuza clan. His passing away prompted the soldiers to fetch her to become the next "kumicho" or the head of the clan. Pror to passing away, her father smuggled a heroin, and that becomes the focus of rivaling yakuza clans to take possession. When one of her soldiers gets killed, Izumi reluctantly takes charge and starts to lead her troops to face the opposing yakuza clan - the only problem is Madaka Gumi only has four yakuza soldiers where the other clans have many more.

Hiroko Yakushimaru shows her brilliant intelligence to lead the group of adults much older than her. The story seem to lack focus as different characters comes and goes, but the real focus is where's the heroin, and who hid it ? Everyone is running after the heroin and much killing goes on to find it. This all sound's serious, but it's all done in light hearted fashion (how a killing can be light, you have to see this film) to appeal to the target audiences. Towards the end, Izumi while wearing her sailor suit school uniform takes a machine gun and goes into Futoccho's (Rentaro Mikuni) office to settle the score and fires the machine gun in his office, exclaiming "Kaikan" (Feel's good) which was one of the defining moments in Japanese cinema at the time.

Hiroko Yakushimaru goes on to becoming a successful movie and TV actor and is still active today.

The concept has plenty of cheeky promise. From the moment I first came across 'Sailor suit and machine gun' I was excited to watch it and see just what sort of ridiculousness the movie might represent. Unfortunately, I only find myself disappointed: there are a lot of things this picture wants to be and do, but the writing and direction simply isn't strong enough to meaningfully accomplish any of it.

Hiroko Yakushimaru puts in a strong lead performance as juvenile crime boss Izumi Hoshi, portraying with admirable range and poise the schoolgirl who is in way over her head. Some scenes are done especially well, and there is some fine camerawork in some instances - framed shots, tracking shots, and so on. There's some definite cleverness scattered throughout the screenplay, and the narrative as presented to us is complete and cohesive. Yet too much of the runtime passes by with too little noteworthy character moments or plot to truly be worth two hours of our time.

At varying points 'Sailor suit and machine gun' wants to satirize yakuza flicks, or instead be an earnest crime thriller. It tries to embrace the coming of age story, and the bloody vengeance tale, while also striking poignant emotional beats. But at no time is it funny, or thrilling, or impactful. At no time is it satisfying, fulfilling, or rewarding. For all the story ideas that the feature folds in, none of them are realized organically, or convincingly; none seem to have been given the full energy and consideration they deserved. Even the scene suggested by the title - what should by all means be a defining moment for Izumi in the story - is executed halfheartedly: bereft of real vigor, showing restraint that's honestly unwelcome. This could have been a genuinely great, outstanding movie, an exploration of the journey of an innocent introduced to power in the criminal underworld. What it was, instead, is mostly just tedious, middling, uninteresting light and sound.

I'm very disappointed, and a little frustrated. I can't say I'm familiar with the novel this is based on, but I can recognize some strong ideas in the screenplay. There are some elements here that I can appreciate. I would appreciate them a lot more if they were put to good use in a movie that was written and directed with far greater attentive care. Even as it maintains a coherent plot, the film we get is much too tepid and listless to be engaging, and those aspects that are done well can't save it. I entered with moderately high expectations, perhaps, but I kept waiting for an epiphany, and it never came - and given the story this feature wants to tell, that should definitely not be the case. Clearly there's an adoring audience out there for 'Sailor suit and machine gun,' and I'm just not it. All I can say is that for my part, I can't imagine I'll ever recommend this to anyone.

Two discontented thumbs down.

With a title like Sailor uniform and machine gun I thought this would be a cheesy but funny action flick from 80s Japan. Instead this movie is really boring and the pacing isn't very good. The only good thing I enjoyed was seeing the 80s Japan scenery.

I finished feeling disappointed.