Strange and metaphoric, CHARISMA is an unusual supernatural thriller from Kiyoshi Kurosawa, well-known in Japan as a master of horror cinema due to his films CURE and SÉANCE. Although the outdoor setting of CHARISMA contrasts with the clinical interiors of Kurosawa's other films, his knack for creating unnerving situations and eerie atmosphere remains. Goro Yabuike (Koji Yakusho, a veteran of Kurosawa's films) is a Tokyo detective given a leave of absence after committing a grave mistake during a hostage negotiation. During a trip into the country, he discovers a group of people gathered around a solitary tree in the wilderness. Some believe the unusual tree is poisoning the surrounding countryside, but others want to save it at all costs. Goro gets entangled in the debate around the tree, and sees within the situation the potential for his redemption--but only if he is able to make the right decision.
