Death by Hanging
dir. Nagisa Ōshima · 1968
Feature
Moral Ambiguity
Mood
Dark / Comedic
Look
stark, minimalist compositions with a focus on the absurdity of the situation
Structure
episodic with a focus on dialogue-driven scenes
Plot
A Korean man is sentenced to death by hanging, but he survives the execution. For the following two hours, his executioners try to work out how to handle the situation in this black farce.
Why watch
"Death by Hanging" is a provocative exploration of life, death, and the absurdity of justice, where dark humor collides with existential dread. This film challenges viewers to confront the uncomfortable realities of cultural identity and moral ambiguity through a uniquely absurd lens.
Cultural context
post-war Japanese identitycolonial legacy of Koreacritique of capital punishmentabsurdist theater influences