In Serpent’s Path (La voie du serpent), acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Kiyoshi Kurosawa revisits one of his darkest stories — this time through a French lens. Following its acclaimed world premiere at the 2024 San Sebastián International Film Festival, the film has drawn attention for its cold, meditative take on vengeance and guilt.
Set in Paris, the story follows Albert (Damien Bonnard), a grieving father consumed by the desire for revenge after the brutal murder of his eight-year-old daughter. Convinced that her death is linked to a violent organ trafficking network known only as “The Circle,” he teams up with Sayoko (Kō Shibasaki), a Japanese psychiatrist burdened by her own mysterious past. Together, they begin a chilling descent — abducting and interrogating those they believe responsible.
On the surface, Serpent’s Path operates as a revenge thriller, but Kurosawa’s restrained direction turns it into something far more psychologically unnerving. Through static compositions, wide framing, and undramatic portrayals of violence, he transforms the narrative into an exploration of moral decay and emotional dislocation.
The most significant change from Kurosawa’s 1998 original lies in the reimagining of the supporting role. The character who once served as a male conspirator is now Sayoko — and her quiet composure, contrasted with Albert’s simmering rage, adds a new emotional dimension. Kō Shibasaki’s understated performance deepens the film’s eerie calm, while Bonnard delivers a raw portrayal of grief pushed to its limits.
Serpent’s Path (La voie du serpent) is a bleak yet mesmerizing return to Kurosawa’s roots in psychological horror and crime drama. With a cast that also includes Mathieu Amalric and Hidetoshi Nishijima, the film delicately bridges cultures and languages — unfolding in French and Japanese, with English subtitles — while maintaining the universal dread at its core: the endless, devouring nature of vengeance.
Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Cast: Kō Shibasaki, Damien Bonnard, Mathieu Amalric, Hidetoshi Nishijima
Genre: Thriller
Language(s): French, Japanese (with English subtitles)
For more details about screenings and festival appearances, visit the Japanese Film Festival page or the official Japanese site.
Where to watch La voie du serpent (2024)
