Special Series

The Pornographers

「エロ事師たち」より人類学入門

Directed by: Shohei Imamura
1966 / 128 minutes / Strictly 18+

Based on the novel "The Pornographers" by Akiyuki Nosaka

Screened as part of the JFF Classics 2018.

Even though pornographic filmmaker Subu is constantly threatened by the police and local gangsters, he still sees his work as a drop of sunshine in a repressed society. He hustles to stay alive in Japan’s supposed post-war economic miracle while supporting his lover Haru and her children, who never seem to appreciate his help.

Haru became widowed early in her married life. Since then, she’s always kept Subu by her side, despite a guilty conscience that’s holding on to the memory of her deceased husband. However, Haru doesn’t know that Subu harbours a secret desire for her daughter.

Darkly humorous and satirical, Imamura’s comical treatment of social taboos shocked audiences in 1966 and its discourse remains fresh even in 2018. Based on the novel of the same title by Akiyuki Nosaka, Imamura’s The Pornographers was truly way ahead of its time.