Hakkinbon bijin ranbu yori: Semeru!

This is the last in Noboru Tanaka's Showa trilogy which includes: A Woman Called Sada Abe (1975) & Watcher in the Attic (1976) This film is based upon real-life painter Seiu Ito. He did paintings of women in Kinbaku, tight rope bondage.

Seiu Ito meets Tae at a brothel. A relationship develops between them. Through flashbacks we see Ito with his ex-wife as he photographs her in bondage & torture which he laters creates paintings from. Eventually Take becomes his model.

This is a very stylized film. Often instead of dialogue, Director Noboru Tanaka uses the camera and facial expressions. As much is said without words. There is as much to see as to hear. The acting is outstanding by the entire cast. Junko Miyashita who plays Tae is exceptional. Although the story is dark, I found myself drawn in.

There is some nudity and non-explicit sex scenes. It really is not the focus but as a prerequisite for a Pink Eiga. In fact, many bondage scenes have no or barely nudity. There are some scenes with torture but nothing I would call disturbing as presented.

This film is a dark story but very well done. It is not for everyone.