This film takes place in the 19th century on a small Japanese island which serves as a penal colony in which people convicted of certain crimes are exiled as punishment. To that effect, the people are expected to obey certain rules--with one of the most important being that any attempt to escape is punishable by death. Along with that, living conditions are extremely basic as well and in order to survive each person is also required to perform basic duties or functions to sustain the overall society at large. That being said, one of the central characters in this society is a former courtesan by the name of "Toyogiku" (Keiko Matsuzaka) who was exiled there many years earlier and spends her life as a prostitute to make ends meet. Naturally, since the female population is extremely limited, she keeps quite busy but even so she is fully aware that her best days are behind her--and this fills her with great despair. Things change, however, when she meets a new prisoner by the name of "Kisaburo" (Kazuhiro Nishijima) who--being several years younger--temporarily awakens feelings in her that have gone dormant. Not only that, but she also sees in him an opportunity to finally escape from this prison as well. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this turned out to be a pretty good film, by and large, which benefited from excellent performances by both Keiko Matsuzaka and Kazuhiro Nishijima. Admittedly, I didn't particularly care for a couple of crude (and totally unnecessary) scenes which the director (Eiji Okuda) apparently felt compelled to add--but other than that I enjoyed this film for the most part and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.
2 Reviews
There are worse things than exile...uh...no there isn't! Beware gamblers & arsonists
animala15 January 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Well I was concerned that this movie would be a bloodbath or a sexploitation film, but it wasn;t. what I saw was an epic that despite some slight melodrama, was very well done and yes, in the face of sadness was very beautiful.
The island we come upon in the opening scene is rugged and clearly in the middle of nowhere. The first scene is a bit terrifying as individuals are loaded into basket-like round cages and rolled of a cliff to crash upon the rocks and sea below.
Exiles are sent to this island then left to fend for themselves entirely over the years which shows an odd sort of faudal/bartering society set up in the wilderness. Wilderness it is with some primitive food propagation and fishing but the least famine or contagion wipes out many.
The main focus is Toyogiku, an exile (for arson) courtesan who looks in her 30s-early 40s, and is very beautiful and charming. She gets by (food and shelter) by trading her sexual skills which are thematically present in the movie at times but never gratuitous. She also gets by, by being a tattletale. This makes her feel bad but she is trying to obtain a pardon. Like most others she is desperate to get off the island, which for most seems worse than death, yet they continue to live. Despite the apparent chaos--it isn;t.
She meets Kisaboru who is different and does not want to use her for any trade. They become secret husband and wife and plot to escape. This island is live Devil's Island, and much reference is made of same.
There are corrupt officials and other small intrusions into this trapped society, but most of the stories of the main characters and the wonderful supporting characters are very touching and tragic. It isn;t a weepfest. there are some sobering pictures of good friendships, and some sobering realities of the destruction inflicted by the weather and the pounding sea.
The balance of the village societies are upset by newcomers in a good way (Kisaboru) and in a bad way (Kachu). rather than a tragedy, it is a good survival of the fittest story, and most positively, tenacious dreamers.
I thought it was a great movie even though there is one point near the beginning when an older man dies and in the ending sequence where I felt things went on at length.
The supporting characters really make the movie. And the island and sea itself is a formidable opponent to all these minor criminals punished by being forced to live in an outdoor chess match.
Imagine getting 30 years exile for gambling.
Also***If people don't go see foreign films when they blow into town, then we won't get them in future. There were only eight people in this showing that I went to, a disgrace really.
The island we come upon in the opening scene is rugged and clearly in the middle of nowhere. The first scene is a bit terrifying as individuals are loaded into basket-like round cages and rolled of a cliff to crash upon the rocks and sea below.
Exiles are sent to this island then left to fend for themselves entirely over the years which shows an odd sort of faudal/bartering society set up in the wilderness. Wilderness it is with some primitive food propagation and fishing but the least famine or contagion wipes out many.
The main focus is Toyogiku, an exile (for arson) courtesan who looks in her 30s-early 40s, and is very beautiful and charming. She gets by (food and shelter) by trading her sexual skills which are thematically present in the movie at times but never gratuitous. She also gets by, by being a tattletale. This makes her feel bad but she is trying to obtain a pardon. Like most others she is desperate to get off the island, which for most seems worse than death, yet they continue to live. Despite the apparent chaos--it isn;t.
She meets Kisaboru who is different and does not want to use her for any trade. They become secret husband and wife and plot to escape. This island is live Devil's Island, and much reference is made of same.
There are corrupt officials and other small intrusions into this trapped society, but most of the stories of the main characters and the wonderful supporting characters are very touching and tragic. It isn;t a weepfest. there are some sobering pictures of good friendships, and some sobering realities of the destruction inflicted by the weather and the pounding sea.
The balance of the village societies are upset by newcomers in a good way (Kisaboru) and in a bad way (Kachu). rather than a tragedy, it is a good survival of the fittest story, and most positively, tenacious dreamers.
I thought it was a great movie even though there is one point near the beginning when an older man dies and in the ending sequence where I felt things went on at length.
The supporting characters really make the movie. And the island and sea itself is a formidable opponent to all these minor criminals punished by being forced to live in an outdoor chess match.
Imagine getting 30 years exile for gambling.
Also***If people don't go see foreign films when they blow into town, then we won't get them in future. There were only eight people in this showing that I went to, a disgrace really.
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