Slave Widow (奴隷未亡人, Dorei mibōjin) is a 1967 Japanese Pink film directed by Mamoru Watanabe and starring Noriko Tatsumi. Along with the first "Queen" of Japanese soft-core pornography, the film's cast includes Mari Imai and an early appearance by Naomi Tani, two other major stars of pink film.
When Mitsuko's husband dies leaving her with a large debt, she becomes the sexual slave of his largest creditor, Kitō. Kitō's son Kazuhiko, who is expected to marry the daughter of a wealthy businessman, falls in love with Mitsuko. To escape the situation, Mitsuko drowns herself in the lake near her husband's country villa.[1][2]
In his book Behind the Pink Curtain (2008), Jasper Sharp writes that Mamoru Watanabe's pink films are usually "lyrical... [and] full of poetic symbolism and striking pictorial compositions..."[4] Watanabe opens Slave Widow with close-ups of Noriko Tatsumi's body rising and falling to the sound of heavy breathing, juxtaposed with images of the lake near her country villa. Watanabe's skillful use of sound is also evident in the contrast between Mitsuko and Kazuhiko's two love scenes. In the first, a lyrical scene which takes place near the lake in which Mitsuko will drown herself, the visuals are accompanied by natural sounds such as crickets, birds and water. In the second, which takes place in Tokyo, the desperation of Mitsuko's situation is emphasized with harsh city noises such as non-stop traffic.[2]
Thematically, the film criticizes the nouveau riche of Japan's post-war era in the person of Kitō. The conflict between romantic life and filial piety is also explored in the storyline involving Kitō's son Kazuhiko's affection for Mitsuko. This puts the son in conflict with his father both because Kitō desires to make Mitsuko his own mistress, and because Kazuhiko is expected to marry the daughter of Kitō's business partner. It is Mitsuko who pays for the breach of social protocol through her suicide.[2]
Availabilityedit
Harry Novak released Slave Widow theatrically in the United States through his Boxoffice International Pictures distribution company.[5] Jasper Sharp notes that had it not been for Novak's release of the film, and subsequent preservation, Slave Widow would likely not be available today, as many early pink films were not saved in Japan.[6] The film was again available to U.S. audiences in the late 1990s in a videotape release by Something Weird Video.[5] The film was released on region-1DVD by Gregory Hatanaka's Cinema Epoch label on April 1, 2008. Though the DVD release contains no extras significant to the film, the trailer to Slave Widow is available on Something Weird Video's release of Kōji Wakamatsu's The Notorious Concubines (1969).[7]
Following the DVD release, on May 9 and May 11, 2008, Portland, Oregon's Clinton Street Theater played Slave Widow on a double-bill with Hiroshi Mukai's The Bite (1966), previously considered a lost film.[8]
Notesedit
^Buchanan, Jason. Slave Widow. Allmovie. Retrieved on May 30, 2008.
^ abcSharp, Jasper (2008). Behind the Pink Curtain: The Complete History of Japanese Sex Cinema. Guildford: FAB Press. p. 61. ISBN978-1-903254-54-7.
^Cast listing from Cowie, Peter (editor). "Dorei Mibôjin" in "Japan" in World Filmography 1967 (1977). Tantivy Press, London. ISBN0-498-01565-3. p.351.
^Slave Widow (DVD review) (English). www.dvdmaniacs.net. Retrieved on July 8, 2008.
^JAPANESE SEXPLOITATION DOUBLE FEATURE - May 9 & 11 August 27, 2009, at the Wayback Machine (English). The Clinton Street Theater. Retrieved on March 8, 2009.
Sourcesedit
Barrett, Michael. "Slave Widow" (English). PopMatters, May 8, 2008. Retrieved on May 24, 2008.
Loomis, Daryl. "Slave Widow" (English). DVD Verdict October 26, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, April 10, 2008. Retrieved on May 24, 2008.
Wallis, John. "Slave Widow" (English). DVD Talk, March 28, 2008. Retrieved on May 24, 2008.
Weisser, Thomas and Yuko Mihara Weisser. (1998). Japanese Cinema Encyclopedia: The Sex Films. Vital Books : Asian Cult Cinema Publications, Miami. ISBN1-889288-52-7. pp. 394–395.
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Slave Widow 奴隷未亡人 Dorei mibōjin is a 1967 Japanese Pink film directed by Mamoru Watanabe and starring Noriko Tatsumi Along with the first Queen of Japanese soft core pornography the film s cast includes Mari Imai and an early appearance by Naomi Tani two other major stars of pink film Slave WidowCover to the region 1 DVD releaseDirected byMamoru Watanabe as Yuzuru Watanabe Written byMamoru WatanabeStarringNoriko TatsumiDistributed byMutsukuni Eiga Chuo EigaRelease dateJuly 11 1967Running time73 minutesCountryJapanLanguageJapanese Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Cast 3 Style and themes 4 Availability 5 Notes 6 Sources 7 External linksSynopsis editWhen Mitsuko s husband dies leaving her with a large debt she becomes the sexual slave of his largest creditor Kitō Kitō s son Kazuhiko who is expected to marry the daughter of a wealthy businessman falls in love with Mitsuko To escape the situation Mitsuko drowns herself in the lake near her husband s country villa 1 2 Cast editNoriko Tatsumi Mitsuko Fuji 3 Masayoshi Seigi Nogami Kazuhiko son of Kitō Mari Iwai Maya the maid Tadashi Oizumi Kitō Naomi Tani MarikoStyle and themes editIn his book Behind the Pink Curtain 2008 Jasper Sharp writes that Mamoru Watanabe s pink films are usually lyrical and full of poetic symbolism and striking pictorial compositions 4 Watanabe opens Slave Widow with close ups of Noriko Tatsumi s body rising and falling to the sound of heavy breathing juxtaposed with images of the lake near her country villa Watanabe s skillful use of sound is also evident in the contrast between Mitsuko and Kazuhiko s two love scenes In the first a lyrical scene which takes place near the lake in which Mitsuko will drown herself the visuals are accompanied by natural sounds such as crickets birds and water In the second which takes place in Tokyo the desperation of Mitsuko s situation is emphasized with harsh city noises such as non stop traffic 2 Thematically the film criticizes the nouveau riche of Japan s post war era in the person of Kitō The conflict between romantic life and filial piety is also explored in the storyline involving Kitō s son Kazuhiko s affection for Mitsuko This puts the son in conflict with his father both because Kitō desires to make Mitsuko his own mistress and because Kazuhiko is expected to marry the daughter of Kitō s business partner It is Mitsuko who pays for the breach of social protocol through her suicide 2 Availability editHarry Novak released Slave Widow theatrically in the United States through his Boxoffice International Pictures distribution company 5 Jasper Sharp notes that had it not been for Novak s release of the film and subsequent preservation Slave Widow would likely not be available today as many early pink films were not saved in Japan 6 The film was again available to U S audiences in the late 1990s in a videotape release by Something Weird Video 5 The film was released on region 1 DVD by Gregory Hatanaka s Cinema Epoch label on April 1 2008 Though the DVD release contains no extras significant to the film the trailer to Slave Widow is available on Something Weird Video s release of Kōji Wakamatsu s The Notorious Concubines 1969 7 Following the DVD release on May 9 and May 11 2008 Portland Oregon s Clinton Street Theater played Slave Widow on a double bill with Hiroshi Mukai s The Bite 1966 previously considered a lost film 8 Notes edit Buchanan Jason Slave Widow Allmovie Retrieved on May 30 2008 a b c Sharp Jasper 2008 Behind the Pink Curtain The Complete History of Japanese Sex Cinema Guildford FAB Press p 61 ISBN 978 1 903254 54 7 Cast listing from Cowie Peter editor Dorei Mibojin in Japan in World Filmography 1967 1977 Tantivy Press London ISBN 0 498 01565 3 p 351 Sharp 2008 pp 60 61 a b Fentone Steve 1998 Slave Widow A Rip of the Flesh The Japanese Pink Film Cycle She 2 11 10 Sharp 2008 p 181 Slave Widow DVD review English www dvdmaniacs net Retrieved on July 8 2008 JAPANESE SEXPLOITATION DOUBLE FEATURE May 9 amp 11 Archived August 27 2009 at the Wayback Machine English The Clinton Street Theater Retrieved on March 8 2009 Sources editBarrett Michael Slave Widow English PopMatters May 8 2008 Retrieved on May 24 2008 Buchanan Jason Slave Widow Allmovie Cowie Peter editor Dorei Mibojin in Japan in World Filmography 1967 1977 Tantivy Press London ISBN 0 498 01565 3 p 351 Dorei Mibojin Slave Widow English Complete Index to World Film Retrieved on May 24 2008 奴隷未亡人 Dorei mibojin at Japanese Movie Database Retrieved on May 24 2008 Loomis Daryl Slave Widow English DVD Verdict Archived October 26 2014 at the Wayback Machine April 10 2008 Retrieved on May 24 2008 Wallis John Slave Widow English DVD Talk March 28 2008 Retrieved on May 24 2008 Weisser Thomas and Yuko Mihara Weisser 1998 Japanese Cinema Encyclopedia The Sex Films Vital Books Asian Cult Cinema Publications Miami ISBN 1 889288 52 7 pp 394 395 External links editSlave Widow at IMDb Slave Widow at AllMovie Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Slave Widow amp oldid 1153545464, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
