There was a period between the 1920’s and 30’s in Japan when individualistic literature was denied and proletariat novels dealing with socialism and communism were on the rise. The classic masterpiece representative of this proletariat literature is Kobayashi Takiji’s [Kanikosen]. Written over eighty years ago, this bestseller sold 1.6 million copies and became a social phenomenon just last year. This is because the original message of the author about the labourers in deplorable working conditions crying out for civility overlaps with the current economic crisis in Japan. In 1953, it was made into a film by then actor and director Yamamura Soh, who was influenced by Sergei M. Eisenstein’s [Battleship Potemkin]. This time, it has become a film by Director Sabu, who is also an actor. Sabu, who has shown his own views of the world through original ideas in [Postman Blues] and [Unlucky Monkey], presents the striking visuals reminding of Alien with popular interpretation of art direction and costume. (Shion YANG)