Film Review – Winny (2023)

Should someone go to jail for the misuse of a program they developed? Winny poses this question, based on the true story of Isamu Kaneko developer of the program Winny who is prosecuted for being complicate in piracy as his program becomes the software of choice for people to illegally media. The film explores how dangerous it is for a programmer to be targeted for how people use their software. Giving the example of if someone stabs someone who should be blamed the person who committed the act or the company who made the knife?

This is where my biggest issue arises. The film is more focused on the problems of the Japanese justice system than the actual case. While the trial is fascinating however it spends more time proving how the police abused their power than about how Isamu Kaneko is complicate in breaching copyright law. There are some gut-punching moments in the film when it focuses on how the program could change the world but because of the legal drama all the advancements the software could have produced. But I feel these are too few and far between.

However, many things are great. In particular, the acting is utterly amazing. Masahiro Higashide as Isamu Kaneko is, to be honest perfection. The way he uses his body language and speaks allows his performance to be elevated above the rest. Seeing his performance compared to the real person is eye-opening. The rest of the cast is also great and elevates the material. The writing is also utterly incredible, technology can be very complicated. I have a computer science degree and I could not explain peer-to-peer file sharing easily, this film just perfectly encapsulates all the technobabble in a way that is simple and interesting.

I also loved how well it explained the issues of the Japanese legal system. Especially as someone from the UK, I barely understand our legal system, so the film showcases the flaws and issues in a way that allows the commentary to be impactful. There is a subplot surrounding police corruption that feels so disconnected from the core story but comes full circle at the right time to allow the ending to be truly amazing. I was not fully on board with Winny when it started but by its closing moments, I couldn’t help but find it to a great time. It is a film that showcases a story that needs to be told.

★★★1/2

The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2024 takes place in cinemas around the UK from 2 February – 31 March 2024 | For further information: https://www.jpf-film.org.uk/ | Masahiro Higashide, Takahiro Miura, Hidetaka Yoshioka | Dir: Yusaku Matsumoto | Certificate: TBC