United Red Army

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United Red Army

Released May 27, 2011

3h 10m

Drama

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15 Reviews

64%

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1,000+ Ratings

Japanese student protests soon lead to the formation of a new, left-wing group, the United Red Army. Led by Hiroko Nagata (Akie Namiki) and Tsuneo Mori (Go Jibiki), the band of young adults heads to the mountains for paramilitary training. Despite the group's opposition to Japan's military strategies, the leaders mimic the practice of killing members for minor infractions like kissing. The group's short rise to power culminates in the Asama-Sanso incident, in which many members are assassinated.

Russell Edwards

Variety

Human nature's dark side is the menacing midwife to the stillbirth of '60s idealism in the initially challenging and ultimately riveting United Red Army.

Feb 23, 2012

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Andrew O'Hehir

Salon.com

If you're keeping tabs on the recent cinematic reconsideration of 1960s and '70s left-wing terrorism, Wakamatsu's devastating chronicle of the ultra-violent fringe of Japanese student radicalism is a must-see.

May 31, 2011

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V.A. Musetto

New York Post

Running more than three hours, "United Red Army" is a raw mix of documentary and fiction...

Rated: 3/4

May 27, 2011

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Panos Kotzathanasis

Asian Movie Pulse

"United Red Army" is a genuine masterpiece, a film where all the elements that characterized Wakamatsu's vast filmography come together in the most elaborate way.

Apr 11, 2021

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Violet Lucca

The L Magazine

Neither glowing hagiography nor glowering condemnation, United Red Army is about the why of that failure -- in exacting detail, and with plenty of time to think it over.

Jun 6, 2016

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Martin Tsai

Critic's Notebook

Despite the languorous 190-minute running time, "United Red Army" is a brutal and relentless onslaught.

Oct 7, 2015

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Alec B

A deeply unpleasant viewing experience but that's obviously the point. Few films are willing to show the this kind of slow motion circular firing squad that often happens in radical movements with such brutal honesty.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/10/24

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William D

The first hour is a sympathetic portrayal of terrorists and their cause. I almost turned it off. However, the last two hours are a chilling and fascinating account of how fanatic ideologues eat their own. It will also remind the viewer, intentionally or not, that Commies are humorless, vicious, sadistic bastards.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

A deeply unpleasant viewing experience but that's obviously the point. Few films are willing to show the this kind of slow motion circular firing squad that often happens in radical movements with such brutal honesty.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

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Audience Member

Too much documentary footage alternating with very limited character development. Maybe well intentioned docudrama of an important historical period but turns you off unlike The Baader-Meinhof Complex; I couldn't get through the first quarter of the film because it seems to be a waste of time.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

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Audience Member

This is an uncompromising film directed by master of controversy Koji Wakamatsu. The story is linear and easy to follow. Perhaps it saturates the viewer with too much information, and some parts are too long, but it is quite interesting to see the formation of a terrorist group and their descent to hell. Furthermore, the fact that Wakamatsu knew a lot of the terrorists, himself participating in some of their earliest actions adds weight to the film. It is a tough film to watch but quite interesting.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

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Audience Member

A very interesting story was told in this true story, empathy was drawn while watching those who thought they were fighting for a cause, were actually being murdered one by one! A very long movie, but if you don't mind sitting through three plus hours, then this might be the film for you!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

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Kôji Wakamatsu

Director

Maki Sakai

Mieko Tohyama

Arata Iura

Hiroshi Sakaguchi

Akie Namiki

Hiroko Nagata

Go Jibiki

Tsuneo Mori

Anri Ban

Fusako Shigenobu

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Critics Consensus: The Hangover Part II Could Use Rehab

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Synopsis

Japanese student protests soon lead to the formation of a new, left-wing group, the United Red Army. Led by Hiroko Nagata (Akie Namiki) and Tsuneo Mori (Go Jibiki), the band of young adults heads to the mountains for paramilitary training. Despite the group's opposition to Japan's military strategies, the leaders mimic the practice of killing members for minor infractions like kissing. The group's short rise to power culminates in the Asama-Sanso incident, in which many members are assassinated.

Director: Kôji Wakamatsu
Producer: Muneko Ozaki
Screenwriter: Kôji Wakamatsu, Masayuki Kakegawa
Distributor: Lorber Films
Production Co: Wakamatsu Production
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): May 27, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 17, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.8K
Runtime: 3h 10m

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