It is about Ooku or the Inner Chambers which historically is the place where Japanese shogun kept their women. In this movie, there is a terrible disease which only plaques male population and has wiped out the male population to 1/4 of the number of women population. This brings about the gender reversal theme where females take over the traditional roles of males. Females are depicted to do manual labours, mothers become the heads of families, while males became prostitutes whose "seeds" are heavily sought after. The shogun is now a female and Ooku is filled with men instead. They fight and bicker (just like how women bitch), compare their beautiful dresses, etc in order to gain recognition and eventually become the husband of the shogun.
The story is about Mizuno Yunoshin who decided to enter the Ooku to raise to support his poor family. He quickly gains the attention of the caretaker of the Ooku and is groomed to get the attention of the new shogun. Unbeknown to him, the Ooku law states that the man who takes the virginity of the shogun will be sanctioned to death. In essence, he is trapped to become the sacrificial lamb so that another man can become the shogun's husband. The new shogun herself is not familiar with this so she regrets what she has done. In the end, she "kills" Yunoshin, giving him a new name and banishing him so that he can marry his childhood friend.
I think the plot is somehow shallow despite the strong casts. Kou Shibasaki (as the shogun) is the most impressive one. I think she even commands a stronger screen presence than Kazunari Ninomiya (Yunoshin). The reforms she introduces is interesting but it is limited to Ooku "politics" instead of addressing the society at large. I thought the ending is brilliant with her dismissing 50 of the most beautiful men from Ooku because she thinks they have larger chance to succeed and get married in the society which is deprived of males. Instead, she keeps in service those men who may be less likely to succeed. Hiroshi Tamaki and Kuronasuke Sasaki are pretty good as they plot their crafty and cunning plan. I honestly thought they were good guys haha.. Sadao Abe plays a good mentor to Yunoshin too.
Too bad the rest of the strong casts are 'wasted' to play insignificant roles. Maki Horikita is an example. Sigh.. I thought she would play a more important role :( Mitsuko Baisho is always exceptional in depicting mother role, this time as the matriarch, strict but loving. Pretty boys Aoi Nakamura and Tadayashi Okura are unfortunately used to fulfill the "gay appeal" of the show with Aoi Nakamura actually being kissed by Kazunari Ninomiya.
I thought the gay stuff is a bit redundant. Perhaps guys are more horny so they will just fuck one another if there are no girls around? Or is it just a publicity stunt? Anyway it's pretty akward because I don't think girls would actually mess around with one another. I imagine constant bitching and catfights in the real Ooku. Haha..
Nonetheless, it is an interesting movie. It is quite disturbing to see guys doing the household chores, are involved in prostitution, and are treated like sex objects in this movie. It makes me reflect how sexist our society is currently because we are too used seeing women doing all the above.
No comments:
Post a Comment