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| Images courtesy of 88 Films |
The live-action adaptation of Moyoco Anno’s 2001 manga
series Sakuran about a rebellious young maid in a brothel sold into the Yoshiwara
red-light district to be groomed as a courtesan was the perfect vehicle for
fashion photographer turned filmmaking artist Mika Ninagawa’s 2007 directorial
debut of the same name. The daughter of
renowned theater director Yukio Ninagawa who became a staple of the Girly Photo
movement involving photographs of common household items, she gained
international attention in 1997 at the Parisian Colette boutique store and four
years later garnered Japanese most elite photography award at the 26th
Kimura Ihei. Known for her ultra bright
poppy colorful images that feel like Seijun Suzuki or Nobuhiko Obayashi with
the volume cranked up, Ninagawa’s manga adaptation written for the screen by One
Million Yen Girl director Yuki Tanada comes to Blu-ray disc outside of
Japan for the first time via 88 Films in a new deluxe limited edition as part
of their ongoing Japanarchy line with the golden OBI spines.
During the Ancient Edo period, Kiyoha (played as a child by
Ayame Koike) is sold into a brothel at a young age and begins her training as a
courtesan for Yoshiwara’s Tamagiku house.
Now an adult, Kiyoha (Anna Tsuchiya of Kamikaze Girls) is
rebellious fostering a relationship with a boyfriend on the side against house
rules and her natural beauty sparks resentment among other girls working the
establishment, particularly her superior Takao (Yoshino Kimura) who arranges to
interfere in her romantic relations.
Following a brutal if not operatic and painterly accidental death,
Kiyoha quickly finds herself in an unlikely position of power while appeasing
the Tamagikuya owner (Takashi Miike regular heavy Renji Ishibashi). Over time, Kiyoha now donning the new
courtesan name Higurashi is on top of the Yoshiwara world while also being
tethered to it and efforts to break free and start trying to lead a normal life
prove increasingly difficult.
Primarily a feast for the senses courtesy of Mina Ninagawa’s
strikingly boldly oversaturated color schema rendered like obscenely sour candy
by Rental Family cinematographer Takuro Ishizaka, beautifully capturing
Namiko Iwaki’s vibrant period set pieces and lighting replete with a tower
featuring a fish tank of goldfish above the entranceway, stirringly playful
soundtrack by Ringo Sheena with pep in its step, Sakuran is Yoshiwara by
way of Pistol Opera. Though purists
will complain about deviations from the text for dramatic effect, watching Sakuran
you’re so taken in by the arresting visuals it achieves an effect that’s
either intoxicating or like the jolt of an energy drink.
Co-starring Miike legends Renji Ishibashi in one of his more
sympathetic roles, Visitor Q and The Raid 2 legend Kenichi Endo, Tomie
star Miho Kanno and Battle Royale teen villain Masanobu Ando, the
film is an ensemble audiovisual star-studded freakout. Largely centered around Anna Tsuchiya who is
tasked with a number of sex scenes and nudity who nevertheless in her eyes, her
distinctly feminine body language which Ninagawa’s camera pays acute attention
to including but not limited to the simple act of standing up from a bathtub to
the careful positioning of her hairpins.
Though she has many sexual encounters with leering or oafish boorish
men, much like Emma Stone’s Bella Baxter in Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things,
Kiyoha is completely in command of her situation even a bit reckless at times
about her conduct as male suitors continue to bow down before her.
Released on Blu-ray disc via 88 Films in a new digital
restoration, presented in 1.85:1 widescreen as originally exhibited with 5.1
surround sound and optional 2.0 stereo audio, Sakuran comes with a
collectible booklet featuring essay writing by renowned Japanese film expert Jasper
Sharp, reversible sleeve art, a new introduction by Amber T., audio commentary
by Josh-Slater Williams and a stills gallery.
A bit overwhelming on the eyes and ears, sort of like being locked up in
the chocolate room with Willy Wonka while also being a sexy and sassy dose of
cinematic perkiness, Sakuran represents the bold directorial debut of a
major still photography and commercial fashion artist. Making her aesthete plainly known loud and
clear, drawing inspiration from her contemporaries while still finding her own
footing separating herself from the pack, Ninagawa’s work is radical and kaleidoscopic
and 88 Films’ Japanarchy line’s foray into her oeuvre is an exciting
development for the boutique label.
--Andrew Kotwicki
