DVD release - The Wolves (AnimEigo) available on September 2, 2008

After years of exposure to Kinji Fukasaku and Takashi Miike yakuza films featuring characters with greedy and violent tendencies bordering on the absurd, the long-anticipated AnimEigo DVD release of Hideo Gosha’s 1971 film, The Wolves (Shussho Iwai) may be an important first step in indoctrinating the west to the more traditional tone of the genre.

In the film Tatsuya Nakadai plays Seiji Iwahashi, a member of the Enoki-ya gang. He was recently released early from a 10-year prison sentence for killing the boss of rival Kan’non-gumi. However, he returns to find Kan’non-gumi and Enoki-ya finalizing the process of merging under the careful orchestration of a manipulative politician (Tetsuro Tamba). Iwahashi tries to be as supportive of the new changes as possible, even when he’s passed over as new boss, but when a pattern of corruption and assassination is slowly revealed he can no longer sit back and let it continue.

Region 1, NTSC, anamorphic widescreen 2.35:1, DVD-9. Restored Japanese audio with optional original audio included for comparison. English subtitles include optional cultural notes. Features include program notes, stills gallery, trailers (“The Wolves” and “The Geisha”), and interactive map.

Available at the following retailer(s) on September 2, 2008: