Charisma is a 1999 film directed by Japanese director Kiyoshi Kurosawa. The film is about a dispute between a number of people about a unique but possibly toxic tree growing in an un-named forest.
The film is largely seen from the point-of-view of Goro Yabuike (Koji Yakusho), a police negotiator who has been relieved of his duties following his failure to prevent the death of an important hostage. His stands in the middle of the conflicting opinions about the future of the tree, and has to decide which course to commit himself to.
The film has been interpreted by some as an allegorical tale about the structure of Japanese society blank">http://pears.lib.ohio-state.edu/Markus/Review/Films00/Charisma.html, and the tension between the importance of individuality on the one hand, and the importance of the group on the other. It is also possible to discern an ecological message.
Other cast members include _Hiroyuki Ikeuchi (Kiriyama, who wants to protect the tree), Ren Osugi (Nakasone), Yoriko Douguchi (Chizuru Jinbo), Jun Fubuki (Mitsuko Jinbo, an expert on plants), Akira Otaka (Tsuboi) and Yutaka Matsushige (Nekoshima).
A seasoned detective is called in to rescue a politician held hostage by a lunatic. In a brief moment of uncertainty, he misses the chance for action. Leaving his job and family without explanation, he makes his way to a mountain forest, where there is a peculiar tree called charisma. Should it be destroyed or protected? People stand divided over this one tree. Written by amirmu
