Story Of A Prostitute

Seijun Suzuki's Story Of A Prostitute (1965) is probably as close as he got to creating a prestige film. The film is set in China on the Manchurian front in the late 1930s where Harumi (Yumiko Nogawa) has volunteered as a “comfort woman” after being betrayed by her fiance who decided to marry a girl from a better family.  Harumi is chosen as a favorite by the cruel Lieutenant Narita (Isao Tamagawa)at the army base, but falls for Narita’s direct subordinate Mikami (Tamio Kawachi). Seijun Suzuki’s Story of a Prostitute is an adaptation of a Taijiro Tamura novel that challenges the military and male codes of honor. I was surprised to learn from the extras that it was not shot on location, the set designs by Takeo Kimura do a compelling job of creating the Manchurian plains. There is some great cinematography and a surreal dreamlike sequence in which Harumi strips and run in slow motion through a courtyard and up some steps into a room that is visually striking and memorable.I am still working my way through Suszuki's oeuvre, but this might be my favorite so far. The Criterion edition has some good features such as new video interviews with director Seijun Suzuki, production designer Takeo Kimura, and film critic Tadao Sato, the original theatrical trailer, new and improved English subtitle translation and a new essay by film critic David Chute.