The Lowlife (2017)

"The Lowlife" is a gritty drama that dips into the shadowy corners of crime and survival, following characters whose choices leave them exposed in more ways than one. Kokone Sasaki headlines the cast, with Ayano Moriguchi and Aina Yamada rounding out the ensemble in supporting turns that add texture to the story's rougher edges. The archive holds a single clip worth seeking out, a scene that finds one of its stars baring all with unflinching commitment to the material. It's a brief but telling glimpse into the film's willingness to strip away pretense, literally and otherwise.