SakuranSakuran is the story of Kiyoha, who as a young girl is sold to a brothel in the Yoshiwara pleasure district, the Las Vegas of Edo (later Tokyo) Japan. Spunky and rebellious, she is unsuccessful in her attempt to run away, and learns that one gets out only by having her contract redeemed by a wealthy patron.
A few years later she becomes an oiran, the highly coveted head prostitute of the brothel, and assumes the new name Higurashi. Through her many trials and tribulations, Seiji, the Head Clerk of the house where she works, has stood by her. It was he who brought her back when she first ran away, promising that when a barren cherry tree within the quarter blooms he would take her away.
This gorgeously shot period drama is based on a manga by Moyoco Anno that originally ran from 2001 to 2003. Assuming that the film is a relatively faithful adaptation, Anno clearly has utilized many of the plot devices that can be found in Arthur Golden's 1997 Memoirs of a Geisha.
This is the first film directed by Mika Ninagawa. The daughter of Japanese stage director Yukio Ninagawa, she is a famous and best-selling art photographer in her own right. She is clearly someone who can be expected to produce more remarkable films in the future, if she choses to continue to work in the medium. I certainly hope she will.
Anna Tsuchiya (Kamikaze Girls, The Taste of Tea) stars as Kiyoha/Higurashi. Born in 1984, Tsuchiya is the daughter of a Japanese mother and a Russian-American father. Her exotic looks make her a perfect choice for the role of a highly coveted courtesan, at least in contemporary terms. That might not have been the case, if such an genetic blend were even available, at the time that the action takes place. So on the surface there may be a bit of an anachronism going on here.
(Just so there's no confusion, although Tsuchiya is obviously Eurasian, the character herself is depicted as a pure Japanese. There's no reference at all to her being a "half," as those of mixed decent are often described.)
More important than her looks, however, is the fact that she demonstrates great range, covering the gamut from aggressive feistiness to abject grief and vulnerability. Tsuchiya was a successful model and singer before she began appearing in films.
I give the film a 3.5 out of 4 star rating: highly recommened.
Sakuran will be shown as part of Japan Society's JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film. There will be two screenings:
- Saturday July 12th at 8:30 PM. A Red Light Party will follow the screening (special ticket price of $15/$12 members).
- Sunday, July 13th at 12:45 PM.
Japan Society
333 East 47th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues)
New York NY 10017
Box office: 212.715.1258
Sakuran info and tickets
JAPAN CUTS home page
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