Battle Royale

A pulsating and brutal life and death parable of teenage melodrama, ultra violence and state-sanctioned violence.

In an alternate totalitarian Japan crippled by recession, the government passes an act to curb the rise of juvenile delinquency. Random high school students are selected and sent to an island where they are fitted with explosive collars and are forced to participate in the deadly game, Battle Royale. Over three days, each student is given meagre rations, a map and a random weapon as they fight each other to the death. Alliances are formed, and the body count rises as they stab, shoot and maim their way to victory.

Based on a popular novel by Koushun Takami, this dystopian action thriller became an instant sensation upon release and drew controversy for its violent themes, causing it to be banned in several countries. Despite that, the film was a huge box office success, spawning sequels, manga spin-offs and videogames. It undoubtedly influenced The Hunger Games and Squid Game, while director Quentin Tarantino praised the film, naming it his favourite film of the last two decades.

– Spiro Economopoulos (Guest Curator)