Posted: 03.04.2008 at 17.14
Scars like that can mean a number of things. [Don't read this if you have a weak-stomach] It was used to remove/take the beauty from one's face (more commonly commited on females) throughout the 19th and 20th century in parts of Asia. But it can also be a torture mechanism, where the victim's screams increases the size and damage of the cut. Yea, not pretty.
Actually, I wonder how much "Ichi The Killer" was an influence when designing the Joker in this film...