Huh, her boss turned out to be a pretty decent guy
Since he was the one who got Matsui flight tickets which eventually led to them being together...I guess you might say he was the wingman?
Thing is, most bosses are pretty decent dudes to dudes who a) bring in the money (or do good services, as in this case) and b) stay loyal. Matsui did both of those things, that's why she got to retire in peace -- and serve as an aspirational example to her boss' other underlings. It's all good politics on "aniki's" part.
Was pleasantly surprised as I expected some kinda tragedy or something, either the love interest getting gunned down or being in on the plot and deciding to reveal only for it to be too late. But instead! A nice happy ending for them both.
I don't think Takahashi has been a hitwoman. The Miike goons refer to her as "figurehead" and "young lady", meaning that she was more of a yakuza princess, rather than a full-time killer like Matsui. This explains her combat skills, but seeing how she tried to quit her family's lifestyle by finding honest work, I do not think that her innocence was faked at any point.
You are most likely right in all points.
I just love scenes where the helpless bystander turns out not to be so helpless. It's a sadly, criminaly underused narrative device.
I don't think Takahashi has been a hitwoman. The Miike goons refer to her as "figurehead" and "young lady", meaning that she was more of a yakuza princess, rather than a full-time killer like Matsui. This explains her combat skills, but seeing how she tried to quit her family's lifestyle by finding honest work, I do not think that her innocence was faked at any point.
You are most likely right in all points.
I just love scenes where the helpless bystander turns out not to be so helpless. It's a sadly, criminaly underused narrative device.
Best use of this trope was in the Bad Times at the El Royale movie IMO. Still get goosebumps at the 'Miles, how many people have you killed?' scene.
Takahashi: Oh gosh I’m too nervous to approach any customers :/
Also Takahashi: pulls out guns who wants to get shot in the face????
Shooting people is so much simpler than conversing with them -- or at least, it's supposed to get easier after the first time. Communication is harder than violence, that's why most popular entertainment is about the former, while people actually talking out their problems with each other is so rare...
