Soredemo Boku-wa Yattenai

"I still didn't do it"


3 screening dates at the Empire Granville Theatre for the Vancouver International Film Festival.
- Saturday Sept 29th (2:00 pm)
- Friday Oct 5th (9:15 pm)
- Saturday Oct 6th (2:30 pm)

This movie is really a morbid reflection of Japan's defunct legal system. A girl falsely accuses an innocent man for groping her in a crowded train. "In Japan judges are promoted for the speed with which they deal with their caseloads with a resulting 99.9% guilty rate. Belying its adoption of most aspects of modern democracy, Japan does not have trial by jury and presumption of guilt is reality in all but name." The result? Either:
1) Confess to a crime you didn't commit, pay an insane shitload of money and walk away with a criminal record
2) Be subjected to months to years of psychological and physical torture in an attempt to argue with a legal system that presumes your guilt rather than innocence anyway.

In either situation, you're cooped up in a small ass box tied to real criminals - murders, petty thieves, rapists, yakuza, etc. Legal counsel is not allowed for the first few days and even afterwards, it's limited and useless. Police will subject you to an onslaught of verbal coercion day in and day out in order to pry forth a false confession. In short, a person could make a living just simply accusing people of crimes they didn't commit and walk away with a fat wallet. It's that very injustice that makes one wonder... how many people locked up in japanese jails are really innocent? Whether you're a Japanese native or a foreigner visiting the country... just take note.

I urge anyone who has any interest in Japan to give this movie a try. I haven't seen it yet since I don't understand a damn word but subtitles are provided at the screenings. The October showings will feature an appearance of the film director, Masayuki Suo ("Shall We Dance"). If all works out, Simon might appear up on stage with him at the October screenings.