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Gate of Flesh
"Nikutai no mon"
1964 Japanese film directed by Seijun Suzuki
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The Criterion Collection edition includes special
features:
Exclusive new video interview with Director Seijun Suzuki
and Production Designer Takeo Kimura, Stills gallery,
Theatrical trailer, New and improved English translation,
New essay by noted Asian-cinema critic Chuck Stephens.
Set in post WWII with much of everything in ruins, this is the story
of women eeking
out a living by selling their bodies, settng up business in bombed out
buildings.
This was a Nikkatsu production and classified as Adult and none of the
female actresses at the time would do it,
so they had to recruit new actresses to do the key roles. Source Criterion
DVD extra.
I was especially moved by the setting, the realism in a post war setting.
The bondage / punishment scenes were done extremely well.
Told through the eyes of the new girl, Maya, earning their trade.
The first punishment with rope involves
Michiko who found love,
but love is against the rules.
The only rule is to profit from the selling of one's
body.
Michiko is jumped by fellow prostitutes.
She is bound and beaten with a stick or cane.
The punishment continues.
Myya gets into the action taking the rod to beat her fellow prostitute.
Her emotions here are moving.
The Second punishment scene is for the central
character, Maya,
who is punished before being expelled.
These scenes are just beautiful.
Stunning!
She Laments
