Plot: What’s it about?
Subu Ogata (Shoichi Ozawa) works in the movie business, but not the kind of movies you take the entire family to experience. No, he works on pornographic movies and while that might cause some people inner conflict, Subu’s conscience is as clear as can be. He feels like he is doing people a favor, as his erotic pictures offer a chance to escape, which is something many in his repressed culture seek out. And if nothing else, the income the profession provides is reason enough to stay involved in the trade. Subu puts the money he makes to good use too, as he supports not only himself, but also a woman named Haru (Sumiko Sakamoto) and her offbeat children. Her son Koichi (Masaomi Kondo) isn’t pleased with Ogata’s presence in their life, but he isn’t shy about taking the man’s money whenever the need arises. Koichi also seems to have an unusual bond with his mother, even if that bond isn’t a mutual one. Her daughter Keiko (Keiko Sagawa) doesn’t mind Subu however, as she knows how important he is to their household. But Subu holds a deep, dark attraction to Keiko and in truth, she is the reason he stays with Haru. At the same time, Haru believes her deceased husband has returned as a carp and a disapproving one at that, so her union with Subu is never much beyond sexual encounters. What will become of this bizarre household, which seems poised on the brink of implosion?
As this is a movie about the world of pornography, you might expect graphic sexual content and frequent nudity to be central elements. That isn’t the case with Shohei Imamura’s The Pornographers, which has no naked bodies and deals with the sex off screen, even touchy topics are hinted at, instead of explored in depth. The film has sexual themes, but focuses more on the boundaries of relationships, and not just the sexual ones. So don’t enter into this movie with expectations of sleaze, as The Pornographers is more like a character study, or even a human interest project. But this is also not a complex drama, instead we have a movie that celebrates the quirks and dysfunction, in a bold and brazen fashion. The Pornographer is a dark comedy at heart, as it shakes a finger at the lewd acts it depicts, but also offers a knowing wink at times. Some of the topics, such as underage sex, might spook some of the more conservative viewers, but if you have an even slightly open mind, this movie shouldn’t offend. And the dark comic moments are highly effective, from the character interaction to the more absurd elements, such as the woman who believes her husband has been reincarnated as a disapproving fish. I can’t say this release is a safe choice for everyone, but those interested in unusual, but well crafted international cinema, Criterion’s edition of The Pornographers is more than recommended.
Video: How does it look?
The Pornographers is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. I had some concerns about how good this movie would look, but as per usual, Criterion has ensured the presentation is quite impressive. The print has some minor nicks and such, but is much cleaner than previous releases, without question. A few scenes do show more defects than others and grain sometimes pops in, but rest assured, The Pornographers looks great here. As this is a black & white movie, contrast is crucial and it comes through in proper form throughout. The black levels are smooth and consistent, with only a few scenes that look soft or on the muddled side. So Criterion has done it again, as this is a superb visual presentation.
Audio: How does it sound?
The film’s original Japanese soundtrack is presented via a mono option, which sounds good and should please all viewers. As far as a 1966 mono track is concerned, this one is well presented and suffers from minimal age defects, but it is an older mono option, so keep that in mind. The audio is sometimes limited, but the material is never held back much and while it won’t dazzle the ears, it does cover all the basic bases. The dialogue is crisp and never gets overrun by the other elements, while the hilarious music and sound effects also sound solid here. This disc also includes optional English subtitles, just in case.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes the film’s theatrical trailer.
