Jin-Roh: Anime

Another emotionally stirring and highly philosophical tale from cinematic master Mamoru Oshii, "Jin-Roh" or "The Wolf Brigade" is a story of political intrigue, love, sacrifice, and the battle between a man's conscience and his inner beast. Set against the political turmoil of a post occupation Japan in an alternate timeline, "Jin-Roh" is packed with the kind of action and emotional stimulation we've come to expect from Oshii, especially now, after his efforts in "Ghost in the Shell" (The original, it's sequel: innocence, and the second season of Stand Alone Complex,) as well as a host of other masterpieces, including the cult classic "Pat Labor."

Jin-Roh opens with the sad tale of a Japan aching for release, struggling to grow quickly, to build up it's economy after years of oppression and occupation at the hands of an unknown nation (though it is hinted and all but implied throughout the film that the nation was Nazi Germany.) "Jin-Roh," however, does not focus on the occupation, but rather goes deep into the heart of the battle within Japan itself, focusing instead on the struggles faced by the people in a world where a powerful left-wing terrorist group known only as "The Sect" is fighting against the detached and politically-minded forces of the law, a law divided by it's similar ideals, yet differing methods of dealing with hostile situations.

When Japan's own special forces ignore the rules of jurisdiction agreed upon by both their leaders and the leaders of Tokyo's police forces and lead an assault into the sewers of the city to eliminate a handful of "The Sect's" resistance fighters, one soldier, a man known as Corporal Fuse, (pronounced Foo-seh) comes across a young girl with a satchel full of explosives; hesitating and ignoring his duty as a normally kill-on-sight soldier, he asks her "Why?" instead of shooting her on the spot.

Driven mad with fear at the sight of his comrades running toward her from all directions to support the corporal, the girl pulls the detonator cord on the device and sets off a cascade of events and nightmarish twists that lead to the eventual confrontation, not between Fuse and some evil individual, but between Fuse's human side and the beast, the wolf, within him.

Who wins? You'll have to see for yourself, but suffice-it-to-say "Jin-Roh's" ending is perhaps the most emotionally stirring part of the entire tale, a dramatic and moving climax that is sure to bring a tear to the eye of even the most hardened film veteran.