The Great Happiness Space: Tale of an Osaka Love Thief (2006)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Jake Clennell

Genre:

Documentary

Tagline:

Meet Osaka's number one selling Host.

Plot:

Welcome to The Great Happiness Space: Rakkyo Café. The club's owner, Issei (22), has a staff of twenty...

Plot Keywords:

Host | Japanese Culture

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Country:

UK

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Osaka, Japan

Company:

Jake Clennell Productions

Quotes:

Female Customer: When I get drunk and you don't entertain me I can't stand it.

compelling documentary

This is a fine documentary as it first draws you in, building up the myth and reputation of Issei, the enigmatic and charismatic club owner (as others have said). The host boys are indeed hip and stylish, and the initial part of the film shows the 'neverland' where girls can buy an evening with the ideal guy... sad, but still, a standard business transaction, right?

However, after that you learn more about the girls and what they do in order to raise the money to feed their habit or addiction or passion (whichever you may see it as) for their favourite hosts. Then what looked like an interesting social phenomenon starts to seem like a twisted interrelationship between industries.

The film is good because it doesn't take sides; it shows different perspectives on the same issues and leaves you to draw your own conclusions. It shows different aspects of life at the host club, different parts of the process - from picking up girls to closing time. It raises questions - sure, these guys can earn millions of yen a month, but really, what is the profit at the end of the day?

Different people watching it will draw different conclusions, I'm sure. A good one for discussion on gender issues (I for one don't really see it as women getting their own back - to me, the men are still in control here, and women are doubly victimized, but you could take it differently too), social matters, etc. A good watch and a well-made film.