Wasabi
Directed by Gérard Krawczyk
- drama
- action
- comedy
The story
Hubert is a French policeman with very sharp methods. After being forced to take 2 months off by his boss, who doesn't share his view on working methods, he goes back to Japan, where he used to work 19 years ago, to settle the probate of his girlfriend who left him shortly after marriage without a trace.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated city light with sharp, punchy action framing, moving between grey Paris streets and the neon-and-rain bustle of Tokyo. The mood is brisk and mischievous, with a dry, deadpan streak running under the gunfire and car chases. A stern, rule-bending French detective pursues a personal quest through Japan, and the story gathers momentum through clashing cultures, odd-couple banter, and the slow thaw between a gruff loner and an unexpectedly capable companion. Expect a steady rhythm of short comic beats broken by bursts of action, with a warm, affectionate core. The violence is frequent and often played for shock: gunfights, brawls, and rough police and gangland treatment, with some crude humour that leans uncomfortably on prejudice. Fear and gore are light, but the action is not gentle. It suits a lively evening with friends or a rainy afternoon when you want something loud and playful. It is for viewers who enjoy Jean Reno's understated screen presence, Besson's kinetic, genre-savvy style, and a crime caper that moves quickly and doesn't take itself too seriously.
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