Death by Hanging (1968) review

Korean man R (Yu Do-yun) is sentenced to death by the Japanese - for rape and murder - but he doesn't perish from the hanging, so the prison officials debate what do with with him, and R is in a daze, unsure of who he actually is.  The first half is very good, with the guards (and even the Warden) 'acting out' R's crime to try to jog his memory (with much shouting), but the second half is repetitive (and with even more histrionics) as R's sister appears, but only certain people seem to be able to "see" her ... and there are many tedious 'discussions' about Korean stereotypes in Japan and whether or not executing a prisoner makes the state a murderer as well.  It also goes back and forth between "capital punishment is terrible" and "capital punishment is necessary (in some cases)" so many times (the way R's identity fluctuates) that it gives itself - and anyone watching - a headache.