Shohei Imamura's Pigs and Battleships is a scathing commentary on Japanese society post World War II. The film chronicles the life of Kinta, a poor man who opts to join the yakuza gang as a way of making ends meat, much to the dismay of his girlfriend, Haruko. Through these characters trials and tribulations Imamura shows the corruption which exists, characterized through the clash between the US occupation forces and the people of Japan. We are shown how the poor Japanese people feed off the Americans, conforming to their ways just to get by. The problem which Imamura presents is the American's have no real interest in the needs of these people, essentially just using them for their gain, while not contributing to society. A scene towards the end of the film where a group of pigs are released from their cages, consuming the streets perfectly serves as an allegory for the Japanese people of the time's need to rise up. The film has some great style with some nice camera movements and tracking shots with the scene where Horuko gives into prostitution as a means of getting by, being a beautifully executed scene-the use of the spinning frame. It's a film that busting with energy, showcasing the rampant crime that exists, while using the doomed romance narrative of Kinta and Haruko to make it's final point. 8.25/10
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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