The Black Test Car

The world of automobile espionage serves as a springboard for Masumura’s study of the decadence of post-war corporate Japan and the passing of imperialist DNA into self-serving manufactures in this highly suspenseful, deeply cynical noir. Asahina (Jirô Tamiya) is the ambitious young member of a spy team working for Tiger, a mega automobile firm, which is about to launch its latest deluxe sports model, the Pioneer. After a series of mishaps, the Tiger group realize that their staunch rival, Yamato, may have planted a mole in the company. A breathless cat-and-mouse game ensues – replete with double-crossings, triple-crossings, and capricious twists – which ultimately exposes the extent of industrial corruption. (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)