天国と地獄
"Stark, intense drama almost beyond belief!"
High and Low - Movie Quotes
Memorable Quotes
Your house looked like heaven, high up there. That's how I began to hate you.
— Ginjirō Takeuchi
Context:
Spoken during the final scene in the prison, where Takeuchi explains his motivations to Gondo face-to-face for the first and only time.
Meaning:
This line crystallizes the entire social commentary of the film. It reveals that the crime was not born of simple greed, but of a deep, systemic resentment created by class inequality. It is the voice of the 'low' directly confronting the 'high' with the source of its anguish.
Success isn't worth losing your humanity.
— Reiko Gondo
Context:
Said to her husband, Kingo Gondo, in their living room as he struggles with the decision of whether or not to pay the ransom, initially prioritizing his business takeover.
Meaning:
Reiko's plea serves as the film's central moral thesis. She cuts through Gondo's pragmatic, business-oriented arguments to remind him of a higher value, effectively acting as his conscience and guiding him toward his ultimate decision.
I know how much this money means to you, but a human life means more.
— Kawanishi (Gondo's secretary)
Context:
Spoken to Gondo during the tense deliberations in the mansion, urging him to prioritize the kidnapped child over his corporate ambitions.
Meaning:
This quote reinforces the film's core humanist message, coming from a business associate who fully understands the financial stakes. It highlights that the moral choice is clear to everyone except, initially, the man who has the most to lose.