is a 2008 TV film directed by Takashi Miike

Takashi Miike

is a highly prolific and controversial Japanese filmmaker. He has directed over seventy theatrical, video, and television productions since his debut in 1991. In the years 2001 and 2002 alone, Miike is credited with directing fifteen productions...

. It was released in the United States under the title "The Negotiator"

Plot

Three unidentified men hold a group of people hostage in a hospital after doing a smaller crime. Inspector Ishida and Captain Tohno handle the negotiations while one of their colleagues, Lt. Ado, tries to find the reason why the men decided to take the hospital hostage. At first, Lt. Ado tries to think of the possibilities for this crime using the clever aid of Ishida, but he only reaches the solution to the puzzle later on and by himself. Relevant information is revealed to the audience through flashbacks and through discoveries made by the police. Several connections are made as the story develops. When the negotiations are finished, most things seem to be fine until they lose track of the criminals. Then, the story unveils with a different perspective, its roots in feelings of love and vengeance.

Cast

• Kenichi Endo as Convenience store clerk
• Masatō Ibu
  Masato Ibu
  ' is a Japanese actor and voice actor.-Films:*Maison Ikkoku *Empire of the Sun as Sgt. Nagata*Sukeban Deka *Dr. Akagi *Taboo *Godzilla vs...
  
   as Ishida's boss
• Renji Ishibashi as Counselor Kanemoto
• Hiroshi Mikami
  Hiroshi Mikami
  is a Japanese actor.-Selected filmography:* Tōki Rakujitsu * Swallowtail Butterfly * Parasite Eve * Tsuki no sabaku aka Desert Moon -External links:...
  
   as Inspector Ishida
• Kumi Nakamura as Mrs. Ishida
• Shigemitsu Ogi
• Ryoko Yonekura
  Ryoko Yonekura
  is a Japanese ex-fashion model and actress. She studied classical ballet for 15 years from the age of five. A member of the Oscar Productions agency, she won a national young beauty award in 1992. In 1993 she started her career as a model, working for fashion magazines such as CanCam. She announced...
  
  
• Shirô Sano as Lt. Ando
• Yoji Tanaka
• Mayu Tsuruta as Capt. Maiko Tohno

Other credits

• Writing credits:
  • Takahisa Igarashi (novel Kôshônin)
  • Kota Yamada (screenplay)