Special Series

Free

Intentions of Murder

赤い殺意

Directed by: Shohei Imamura
1964 / 150 minutes / Unclassified 18+

From victim to victor: a woman's road to survival

In the northeastern countryside of Sendai, Sadako is a woman trapped in a vicious cycle of mistreatment and neglect by her common-law husband. But when she faces a brutal encounter with a home intruder, she refuses to become a victim. Instead, Sadako’s harrowing experience awakens a newfound resilience and determination within her, leading her to slowly reclaim control over her life in a male-dominated world. Through gripping and unsentimental storytelling, Imamura narrates Sadako’s fight for survival against domestic drudgery and unwanted sexual attention. 

Through flashbacks and dream sequences scattered throughout the narrative, Imamura skillfully delves into Sadako’s psyche and the generational curse that continuously haunts her. With Masumi Harukawa in the lead role, Intentions of Murder went on to become one of the most noteworthy titles in Imamura’s oeuvre, offering a critique of societal norms while capturing the tenacity of a woman coming into her own.