Special Series

Free

Temptation

誘惑

Directed by: Kō Nakahira 
1957 / 92 minutes / Unclassified all ages

Romantic musings in the heat of post-war Tokyo

“Sex is life, art is money!” is the teasing declaration tossed into view, instantly marking a bohemian divide between Hideko and her bemused father Shо̄kichi. A fastidious member of an avant-garde collective of young artists, Hideko operates with practical innovation to coerce Shо̄kichi into hosting an art exhibition for them in the new gallery above his business. But his mind is thoroughly in the clouds, brooding over romantic reminiscences…much like everybody else! 

Masterfully veiled by an early form of romantic comedy, Temptation invites a charming exploration of nevertheless radical themes prevalent in the alluring heat of post-war Tokyo. One of Nakahira’s most playful films in subject and style, Temptation posits changing ideas around sex and art, whilst mediating the tidal incoming of consumerism and contemporary notions. A window into the noisy bustle of 50s downtown Ginza, even the internationally renowned artist Tarō Okamoto makes an appearance – a face humouring a new and open future for art and the Japanese youth.