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IMDbPro

Kita no hotaru

  • 19841984
  • 2h 5m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
112
YOUR RATING
Kita no hotaru (1984)
  • Drama
During the Meiji era, a brutal prison warden terrorizes convicts sentenced to forced labor to build the roads needed to open up the territory in the icy wilderness of Hokkaido.During the Meiji era, a brutal prison warden terrorizes convicts sentenced to forced labor to build the roads needed to open up the territory in the icy wilderness of Hokkaido.During the Meiji era, a brutal prison warden terrorizes convicts sentenced to forced labor to build the roads needed to open up the territory in the icy wilderness of Hokkaido.
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
112
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Hideo Gosha
  • Writer
    • Kôji Takada
  • Stars
    • Tatsuya Nakadai
    • Shima Iwashita
    • Kôichi Satô
Top credits
  • Director
    • Hideo Gosha
  • Writer
    • Kôji Takada
  • Stars
    • Tatsuya Nakadai
    • Shima Iwashita
    • Kôichi Satô
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1User review
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 3 nominations

    Photos

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    Top cast

    Edit
    Tatsuya Nakadai
    Tatsuya Nakadai
    • Takeshi Tsukigataas Takeshi Tsukigata
    Shima Iwashita
    Shima Iwashita
    • Yu Nakamuraas Yu Nakamura
    Kôichi Satô
    Kôichi Satô
    • Yakichias Yakichi
    Ai Saotome
    • Setsu Furuyaas Setsu Furuya
    Daisuke Ryû
    Daisuke Ryû
    • Nagakuraas Nagakura
    Kunihiko Mitamura
    • Masakias Masaki
    Reiko Nakamura
    • Hamagikuas Hamagiku
    Junko Takazawa
    • Hanayakkoas Hanayakko
    Shunsuke Kariya
    Hatsuo Yamaya
    Hatsuo Yamaya
    • Marutokuas Marutoku
    Shirô Kimura
    Arase
    Masaya Nihei
    • Tomosaburo Kumagaias Tomosaburo Kumagai
    Kinzô Satô
    Hiroshi Miyauchi
    Happou Tsukitei
    • Clothing company owneras Clothing company owner
    Kyôichi Satô
    Kai Atô
    • Ryuzoas Ryuzo
    • Director
      • Hideo Gosha
    • Writer
      • Kôji Takada
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    User reviews1

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    aka Fireflies in the North
    Kita no hotaru is an icy cold drama it opens with a narration, a brief historical background accompanied with original photos, the foundations of this fascinating tale. The story setting is the frigid untamed wilderness of Hokkaido during the early days of the Meiji era 1868-1912. This is a Hideo Gosha film , typical a dizzying mixture of history, politics, brutality, sexuality, romance, and bloody violence. Beautifully filmed, skilfully stylish, Gosha masterly blends all of these elements to create a compelling action packed historical drama.

    Nakadai Tatsuya stars in a brilliant lead performance as Kiyoshi Tsukigata who in real life was the first warden of Kabato Prison 1881, It was here at this remote outpost that a prisoner rebellion broke out, brought on by the endless abuse & mistreatment. The Japanese government had established a European-style civil police system in 1874, and began using political prisoners as slave labour, many of the men came from former samurai clans now outlawed. Rounded up from prisons across the country the prisoner workforce was critical for building infrastructure roads/railroads to open up the snowbound wilds. The prisoners suffered a terrible fate in the harsh conditions, there was a heavy death toll among them.

    There is a polished gleam to this production, very 1984, missing is that gritty raw edge of his earlier masterpieces eg Hitokiri (1969), however no way is this a detraction,. Kita no hotaru is a tense action packed adventure, a thought provoking twisting tale of intrigue and passion loyalty and honour, it is enthralling cinema, superior artistry, nothing less from the Japanese master Hideo Gosha..
    helpful•5
    0
    • manfromplanetx
    • Jan 13, 2018

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 1, 1984 (Japan)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Fireflies in the North
    • Filming locations
      • Egami, Fukui Prefecture, Japan
    • Production companies
      • Haiyuza Eiga Hoso Company
      • Toei Inc.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 5 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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