The Pornographers (1966)
Original title: 「エロ事師たち」より 人類学入門
The Pornographers is a 1966 Japanese-language comedy movie directed by Shōhei Imamura, with a running time of 2h 8m. It stars Shoichi Ozawa, Sumiko Sakamoto and Keiko Sagawa.
Subu makes pornographic films. He sees nothing wrong with it. They are an aid to a repressed society, and he uses the money to support his landlady, Haru, and her family. From time to time, Haru shares her bed with Subu, though she believes her dead husband, reincarnated as a carp, disapproves. Director Shohei Imamura has always delighted in the kinky exploits of lowlifes, and in this 1966 classic, he finds subversive humor in the bizarre dynamics of Haru, her Oedipal son, and her daughter, the true object of her pornographer-boyfriend’s obsession. Imamura’s comic treatment of such taboos as voyeurism and incest sparked controversy when the film was released, but The Pornographers has outlasted its critics, and now seems frankly ahead of its time.
Quick answers
What is The Pornographers about?
Subu makes pornographic films. He sees nothing wrong with it. They are an aid to a repressed society, and he uses the money to support his landlady, Haru, and her family. From time to time, Haru shares her bed with Subu, though she believes her dead husband, reincarnated as a carp, disapproves. Director Shohei Imamura has always delighted in the kinky exploits of lowlifes, and in this 1966 classic, he finds subversive humor in the bizarre dynamics of Haru, her Oedipal son, and her daughter, the true object of her pornographer-boyfriend’s obsession. Imamura’s comic treatment of such taboos as voyeurism and incest sparked controversy when the film was released, but The Pornographers has outlasted its critics, and now seems frankly ahead of its time.
When was The Pornographers released?
The Pornographers was released on 12 March 1966.
How long is The Pornographers?
The Pornographers runs 2h 8m.
Who made The Pornographers?
The Pornographers was directed by Shōhei Imamura.
Where can I watch The Pornographers?
The Pornographers is available on Criterion Channel.
Where to watch The Pornographers
Stream: Criterion Channel
Cast
- Shoichi Ozawa as Yoshimoto 'Subu' Ogata
- Sumiko Sakamoto as Haru Masuda
- Keiko Sagawa as Keiko Matsuda
- Masaomi Kondo as Koichi Matsuda
- Haruo Tanaka as Banteki
- Ganjirō Nakamura II as Elderly Executive
- Chōchō Miyako as Brothel Madame
- Kō Nishimura as Detective Sanada
- Ichirō Sugai as Shinun Ogata
- Shinichi Nakano as Kabo
- Kazuo Kitamura as Doctor
- Asao Uchida as Furukawa