Nihon shunka-kô

This film is loaded with allegory, much of it evident, I suspect, only if one is intimate with Japanese culture; to Western eyes, it is obvious that Oshima is dealing with disaffected youth, as four lads in school uniform aimlessly follow various paths that seem to offer opportunity for misbehavior of all kinds, especially sexual adventure; while on the quest, references are made to education, to the era of protest, to national relationships to China and Korea--recall that this film was made two years previous to Easy Rider (and makes that film look like Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm)--much of it can be confusing, but repeated viewings payback with rich rewards for those willing to look for more than entertainment