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Usually when I read reviews that recommend a movie on the strength of its visual qualities alone I become suspicious. But in the case of Go-hime and its predecessor 'Rikyu' the exquisite composition of many of the shots was sufficient in itself to sustain my interest. There are also some excellent exchanges between the characters to contemplate and so, all in all, I have to say that the director has surpassed himself. Kurosawa can infuriate as well as delight with his somewhat mannered and overbearing direction but somehow Teshigahara gets away with something similar here and in the process reveals himself to have the edge on his rather better known contemporary.

Most of us have probably seen enough serial killer movies by now and the various possible plot permutations in the genre have more or less been tested to destruction. Nevertheless, the non-linear storytelling in this film and its refusal to pander to the average intelligence level of a cinema audience makes for intriguing viewing on this occasion. Plus, it explores the psychological impact of having a loved one murdered in more depth and more convincingly than any other movie I can recall. The source material is a novel by the excellent Japanese crime writer Miyuki Miyabe (who in turn seems to have drawn on the famous Leopold and Loeb case for inspiration) and although the film is a vehicle for aging boy band singer Masahiro Nakai he copes well in a major role. The other performances are also impressive and I am surprised that this movie is not more widely known.