Slave Widow
Encyclopedia
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.
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.
released Slave Widow theatrically in the United States through his Boxoffice International Pictures distribution company. 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. The film was again available to U.S. audiences in the late 1990s in a videotape release by Something Weird Video
. 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).
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
.
1967 in film
The year 1967 in film involved some significant events. It is widely considered as one of the most ground-breaking years in film.-Events:* December 26 - The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour airs on British television....
Japanese Pink film directed by Mamoru Watanabe
Mamoru Watanabe
is a Japanese film director, screenwriter, and actor, known for his work in the pink film genre. Along with directors Genji Nakamura and Banmei Takahashi, Watanabe is known as one of the "Three Pillars of Pink".-Early life:...
and starring Noriko Tatsumi
Noriko Tatsumi
is a Japanese actress known primarily for her appearances in pink films of the 1960s. During the "First Wave" of pink film, Tatsumi became known as the first "Queen" of Japanese softcore sex movies, a title which she held from 1967 through 1970...
. Along with the first "Queen" of Japanese soft-core pornography, the film's cast includes Mari Imai and an early appearance by Naomi Tani
Naomi Tani
is a Japanese actress who is best known for her appearances in Nikkatsu's Roman Porno films with an S&M theme during the 1970s.-Early career:Born October 20, 1948, in the Hakata ward of Fukuoka, Naomi Tani moved to Tokyo at the age of 18. After arrival in Tokyo, she was featured in a photo layout...
, two other major stars of pink film.
Synopsis
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.Cast
- Noriko TatsumiNoriko Tatsumiis a Japanese actress known primarily for her appearances in pink films of the 1960s. During the "First Wave" of pink film, Tatsumi became known as the first "Queen" of Japanese softcore sex movies, a title which she held from 1967 through 1970...
... Mitsuko Fuji - Masayoshi/Seigi Nogami... Kazuhiko, son of Kitō
- Mari Iwai... Maya, the maid
- Tadashi Oizumi... Kitō
- Naomi TaniNaomi Taniis a Japanese actress who is best known for her appearances in Nikkatsu's Roman Porno films with an S&M theme during the 1970s.-Early career:Born October 20, 1948, in the Hakata ward of Fukuoka, Naomi Tani moved to Tokyo at the age of 18. After arrival in Tokyo, she was featured in a photo layout...
... Mariko
Style and themes
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..." 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 Noriko's situation is emphasized with harsh city noises such as non-stop traffic.Thematically, the film criticizes the nouveau riche
Nouveau riche
The nouveau riche , or new money, comprise those who have acquired considerable wealth within their own generation...
of Japan's post-war era in the person of Kitō. The conflict between romantic life and filial piety
Filial piety
In Confucian ideals, filial piety is one of the virtues to be held above all else: a respect for the parents and ancestors. The Confucian classic Xiao Jing or Classic of Xiào, thought to be written around 470 BCE, has historically been the authoritative source on the Confucian tenet of xiào /...
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.
Availability
Harry NovakHarry Novak
Harry Novak, "the sexploitation king," produced and distributed a prolific number of exploitation films from the early 60s to the mid-70s, including William Rotsler's cult classics The Agony of Love and Mantis in Lace and the influential "monster nudie" Kiss Me Quick! among many others...
released Slave Widow theatrically in the United States through his Boxoffice International Pictures distribution company. 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. The film was again available to U.S. audiences in the late 1990s in a videotape release by Something Weird Video
Something Weird Video
Something Weird Video is an American publisher of video tapes and DVDs, based in Seattle, Washington. They specialize in exploitation film, particularly the works of Harry Novak, Doris Wishman, David F. Friedman, and Herschell Gordon Lewis. SWV videos are available on demand to Comcast subscribers...
. The film was released on region-1
DVD region code
DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region...
DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
by Gregory Hatanaka
Gregory Hatanaka
Gregory Hatanaka is an independent filmmaker and film distributor based in Los Angeles, California, USA.-Career:Hatanaka is the founder of film distribution and production company Cinema Epoch....
's Cinema Epoch
Cinema Epoch
Cinema Epoch is an independent film distribution & production company based in the U.S. It was founded by distribution veteran and filmmaker Gregory Hatanaka. The company specializes in foreign, independent and cult cinema. The company's first release was the martial arts classic Master of the...
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
Koji Wakamatsu
is a Japanese film director who directed such pinku eiga films as and . He also produced Nagisa Ōshima's controversial film In the Realm of the Senses...
's The Notorious Concubines (1969).
Following the DVD release, on May 9 and May 11, 2008, Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
's Clinton Street Theater played Slave Widow on a double-bill with Hiroshi Mukai's The Bite
The Bite
aka Bait is a Japanese pink film directed by Hiroshi Mukai, credited as "Kan Mukai" in the international English-dubbed version, and starring Senjo Ichiriki and Michiko Shiroyami.-Synopsis:...
(1966), previously considered a lost film
Lost film
A lost film is a feature film or short film that is no longer known to exist in studio archives, private collections or public archives such as the Library of Congress, where at least one copy of all American films are deposited and catalogued for copyright reasons...
.
Sources
- Barrett, Michael. "Slave Widow" (English). PopMatters, May 8, 2008. Retrieved on May 24, 2008.
- Buchanan, Jason. Slave Widow. Allmovie.
- Cowie, Peter (editor). "Dorei Mibôjin" in "Japan" in World Filmography 1967 (1977). Tantivy Press, London. ISBN 0-498015-65-3. 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 DatabaseJapanese Movie DatabaseThe , commonly referred to as JMDB, is an online database of information about Japanese movies, actors, and production crew personnel. It is similar to the Internet Movie Database, but lists only those films originally released in Japan. The site was started in 1997, and contains movies from Meiji...
. Retrieved on May 24, 2008. - Loomis, Daryl. "Slave Widow" (English). DVD Verdict, 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.