Take a dash of The Godfather, sprinkle in some family drama, add in a dash of an afterschool special, and you’ll have the bizarre, yet intriguing 1981 hit Sailor Suit and Machine Gun. There’s a lot going on (and a lot to like) about this bonkers yakuza film.
Things look bleak for high schooler Izumi Hoshi (Hikoro Yakushimaru) when her father passes away. All she seems to have left is her school life. Yet one day on the playground, a horde of mobsters appears looking for Izumi. It turns out her father was next in line to take over the Madeka Family, a mob syndicate. It's obviously unorthodox to have a schoolchild in charge, but the clan clearly follows the rules, so they appoint Izumi as a leader. A rival mob clan disrespects the Madeka clan during a visit. Chaos ensues. Don’t let the premise fool you: this is a gangster film, with all the brutal violence intact.
Sailor Suit and Machine Gun is a true hidden gem of the mafioso genre. It can also be construed as what happens when a girl perseveres and puts her mind to a specific goal. Instead of getting a dress for prom, she’s putting hits out on people. The film is a must-have for public library collections with a section on Asian cinema, as well as the mobster genre.