Story of a Prostitute (Shinpu den)
Directed by Seijun Suzuki
Written by Hajime Takaiwa; story by Taijiru Tomura
1965/Japan
Nikkatsu
First viewing/Netflix rental
[box] “I’m just a musical prostitute, my dear.” ― Freddie Mercury[/box]
In this WWII film, Suzuki reveals his more melancholic and personal side while continuing his use of stunning imagery.
Harumi, a prosititute, is devastated when her lover marriage. She decides to take off for a remote Japanese outpost in Northern China to work in a brothel of “comfort women”. Thirteen women service 1,000 men on an almost assembly-line basis. Harumi becomes a favorite of the brutal adjutant who commands the post.
Disgusted by the adjutant’s abuse, Harumi falls for his orderly. The orderly initially resists her advances but finally succumbs. As the military situation in the area heats up the situation grows more and more tragic.
Usually, Suzuk tends toward edgyy, gonzo style entertainment in the yakuza genre. Here he is almost lyrical, with an unsparing view of one of the horrors of war. Perhaps the more thoughtful tone came from the director’s own experience as a soldier. His unit of 12 men had three dedicated comfort women when he was stationed in Taiwan. Recommended.
Clip – no subtitles
