Set in the aftermath of upheavals like the Vietnam War and Watergate, The Yakuza (1975) – which turns 50 in 2025 – reflects the sense of uncertainty that characterised 1970s America.
At the heart of Sydney Pollack’s neo-noir is the complex, respectful yet fraught relationship between retired American detective Harry (Robert Mitchum) and former yakuza Ken (Ken Takakura). Mitchum conveys Harry’s existential weariness through a finely attuned performance, while Takakura, a Toei ninkyo eiga (chivalry films) star, brings a stoic, virtuous presence to Ken, who guides rather than serves.
The film also explores Harry’s romance with Eiko (Keiko Kishi), whose self-contained attitude contrasts with his nostalgia and desire for an unchanged past.