The Pornographers (1966) (Erogotoshi-tachi yori: Jinruigaku nyumon)
Directed by Shohei Imamura
Written by Shohei Imamura and Koji Numata from a novel by Akiyuki Nosaka
1966/Japan
Imamura Productions/Nikkatsu
First viewing/Netflix rental
[box]on his friendships with prostitutes and bar hostesses] They weren’t educated and they were vulgar and lusty, but they were also strongly affectionate and they instinctively confronted all their own sufferings. I grew to admire them enormously. — Shohei Imamura [/box]
Another Imamura film that went over my head.
Mr. Ogata tries to keep his pornography business afloat while battling mobsters who want to claim a share of the profits. Â On top of that he has a problematic domestic life to attend to with invalid wife, mistress, step-son and sexy step-daughter.
This film uses pornography more as a metaphor for modern consumerism than anything else. Â Any examples are very discrete with minimal nudity. Â I think this is the fourth Imamura movie I’ve seen. Â It is probably the most accessible of those. Â As usual, I got lost in the convoluted plot and self-consciously arty style about a quarter of the way through and never regained interest..
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