THE SEA IS WATCHING
Directed by: Kei Kumai.
Produced by: Masaya Nakamura.
Written by: Akira Kurosawa, based on the novels, The Smell of an Unknown Flower and Before the Dew Dries by Syugoro Yamamoto.
Director of Photography: Kazuo Okuhara.
Edited by: Osamu Inoue.
Music by: Teizo Matsumura.
Released by: TriStar.
Country of Origin: Japan. 119 min. Rated: R.
With: Misa Shimizu, Nagiko Tohno & Hidetaka Yoshioka.
DVD Special Features: Chinese, English, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish & Thai Subtitles.

It’s dusk, and prostitutes, in their colorful and decorative kimonos, are dragging men off the street, promising them a good time. Once its dark, a young samurai (Yoshioka) on the lam rushes into a bordello. The young and hopeful O-Shin (Tohno) hides him in her room as a constable searches the house. After escaping, disguised by O-Shin, Fusanosuke returns, becoming a regular customer. But the older and resigned Kikuno (Shimizu) warns O-Shin about their clients, “Even if they fall in love with you, you don’t fall in love with them and you always make sure yout get paid.” Nevertheless, she and the other women in the brothel hope that O-Shin will in fact marry into a higher caste. Although the plot revolves around O-Shin, the heart and soul of the film belongs to Kikuno. The film’s portrayal of female camaderie is not unlike the one in Unforgiven, and the Japanese world of pre-1868 is beautifully captured in their graceful moments and daily rituals. The melodic score, though, is a bit jarring because of an anachronistic trumpet solo. And O-Shin’s character is less than riveting. In the exciting climax, filmed during an actual hurricane, she’s shrill and her waterworks compete with the rain. However, when the more determined Kikuno becomes the focus of the film, this sentimental tale of redemption is likewise redeemed. KT
July 23, 2003