Unchained

Former Yakuza member Kengo Nishi runs a rehabilitation centre for troubled young people. His programme is built around community: through everyday activities such as gardening and carpentry, the young adults are meant to learn the value of appreciation and solidarity. But with some particularly difficult cases, such as Kaito, none of this seems to work. He sees the centre merely as another stage on which to unleash his anger without regard for the consequences. In such situations, Nishi quickly resorts to questionable methods, relying on physical punishment and sheer toughness. In his eyes, only an “eye for an eye” approach can establish clear boundaries. But can a young man like Kaito really be changed this way? Or is Nishi not only harming the boys, but also putting his own hard-earned reputation at risk? As the boundaries between victim and perpetrator become increasingly blurred, Nishi’s dark past slowly catches up with him. And he risks losing the place he has fought so hard to secure in society, once and for all.