Exploring Japanese Cinema’s Lurid Side
When someone mentions Japanese cinema, iconic names like Akira Kurosawa and Studio Ghibli often come to mind. However, there’s an under-explored and daring side of Japanese cinema that deserves attention – the pinku-eiga, also known as pink films. Unlike mainstream cinema, pinku-eigas are a genre of Japanese cinema that delves into eroticism, lust, violence, and sexual taboos. In this article, we will dive into the top 10 pinku-eigas from the 1960s to the 1980s, examining their distinctive features and the notable directors behind them.
1. Woods Are Wet (1973)
Directed by Tatsumi Kumashiro, “Woods Are Wet” is a notable pinku film that embraces the censorship imposed on explicit content in Japan. Despite the physically scratched-out nudity, this film remains a masterpiece by Kumashiro, known for his exploration of sexual themes. With an alluringly cold aesthetic, this lurid film presents nonstop sexual depravity in just over sixty minutes, lightly pondering themes of freedom and control inspired by Marquis de Sade’s “Justine.”
2. Muscle (1989)
Unlike traditional pinku-eigas, “Muscle” directed by Hisayasu Sato breaks new ground by focusing on the homoerotic relationship between two men. This abstract film takes viewers on a bizarre journey filled with sadomasochistic elements as Ryuzaki desperately searches for Kitami, the man he had a mind-expanding sexual encounter with. Hauntingly beautiful and surreal, “Muscle” explores themes of sexuality, making it both emotive and erotic.
3. Lady Snowblood (1973)
“Lady Snowblood” exemplifies the pinky violence subgenre within pinku-eiga, focusing more on action than the typical pinku elements. Directed by Toshiya Fujita, this film features Meiko Kaji in a captivating revenge story that serves as the main inspiration for Tarantino’s “Kill Bill: Volume 1.” With exceptional filmmaking techniques, Fujita creates suspenseful moments, utilizing stylized visuals such as snow falling in red hues. “Lady Snowblood” is an absolute must-see for any film enthusiast.
4. Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight (1973)
Teruo Ishii, known for his ero guro-influenced pinku-eigas, presents “Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight.” Departing from his more extreme works, Ishii takes a psychedelic approach in this film
