Call Boy

娼年

Directed by: Daisuke Miura
2018 / 119 minutes / Strictly 18+

Undressing female desire through the eyes of a callboy

Screened as part of JFF 2018.

“Desire takes many forms… Some men get overwhelmed by women’s unpredictable desires.”

Brooding ivy league student Ryo spends his days skipping classes, bartending part-time and occasionally sleeping with his customers. His mundane life takes an unexpected turn when a mysterious and elegant customer named Shizuka asks him out. Old enough to be his mother, Ryo is intrigued but drawn to her. By the end of the night, she offers him a job in her private high-end escort service for women.

Moody and atmospheric, Call Boy places female desire and sexuality front and centre, which is rare in current Japanese cinema. And while the film’s premise may sound heavy, don’t take it too seriously because director Daisuke Miura sure doesn’t. The result is a poignant and humorous, sometimes cheeky, drama that challenges popular perception and mocks convention.

Tori Matsuzaka breaks the mould of his previous roles and excellently portrays Ryo in his first daring on-screen character. The talented Ami Tomite (Antiporno, Tag) also lends her presence as Sakura, Shizuka’s daughter.