Yakuza Wives details how two sisters are torn apart as a proxy war erupts in this searing crime thriller. New to Blu-ray from 88 Films.
The Film
Note: The film features scenes sexual assault.
Many of the even the best Yakuza films (Crime films in general not just those from Japan) leave the women of these worlds as simple Molls or Damsels or Pixie Dream Girls of a life outside of the criminal underworld. Always treated as objects never as real characters and their part of the world they’ve been sometimes coerced or duped into. Director Hideo Gosha film Yakuza Wives goes in direct opposition of that. Adaptated by screenwriter Kōji Takada from a book by Shôko Ieda in which she interviewed many Yakuza Wives about their experiences. The result is a riveting and often harrowing account of these wives some who have more power than one would expect and others who are helpless to their husband’s manipulation and abuse.
Focusing on Tamaki (Shima Shinoda) whose has taken control of her husband’s gang while he is in prison. Tamaki dreams of her younger sister Makoto (Rino Katase) marrying someone respectable comes crashing down as psychotic Yakuza enforcer Taichi (Riki Takeuchi) from a rival gang, rapes her and begins an abusive relationship with the young woman. As the gangs begin a proxy war the two sisters’ lives are changed forever.
Gosha’s film is as hard and sobering a look at gang life for women as been filmed. The film maybe considered exploitative especially in the way that Makoto storyline plays out with the sexual component and the raping of her character. Though Gosha’s film seems to be more progressive and showing us the way that Taichi uses that to manipulate the young woman to get her in his grips. Look at the way that Tamaki is subjected to similar abuse and how she traverses that and turns the table not allowing a Boss as a power move. Its these contrasting viewpoints that make one think that the film is not trying to be exploitative but rather critical of this life and the way that women of all types are subjected to the objectification and abuse of these men.
Yakuza Wives may not be for everyone. Its story is fascinating but puts a sobering and violent face to the cost these women endure at every turn. For those that do connect with Yakuza Wives will find an electrifying piece of existential crime cinema.
The Transfer
The 1080p HD presentations on Blu-ray from a master supplied by Toei is an excellent representation of the films. The films look sharp, and the color reproduction is wonderful. 88 Films has gone above and beyond to bring another great Yakuza thriller to Blu-ray with a gorgeous widescreen transfer.
The Extras
They include the following;
New Filmed Introduction By Mark Schilling
Exclusive Interview With Tattoo Artist Seiji Mouri
Trailer
Still Gallery
Married to the Mob: Mark Shilling on Yakuza Wives (15:41) – is what 88 Films is labelling a “Brand New Filmed Introduction by Mark Schilling”. More of a full-on interview with the critic discussing the film and specifically the social context of Yakuza Wives – discussing the film was based on in part of the book/profiles Shôko Ieda; how this differs from other Yakuza Women films and how it was more fact-based; the success of the film series upwards of 16 films including into the era of V-Cinema; director Gosha’s career leading up to making this film; how the film differs from Toei’s patented “sex and violence” type of Yakuza films and how Ieda influenced this with the writing; star Shima Iwashita and how she not a part of any Yakuza films until this point; the problematic nature of the sexual assault component of the film; and much more. Schilling give us a context for the film without spoiling much of the film.
Tattooed Underworld: Seiji Mouri on Yakuza Wives (24:57) – is an all-new interview with Tattoo Artist and Actor Seiji Mouri begins with how he began as a bit player at Toei and moving into full on actor/salaried employee of the company and what that life consisted of. Some of the other details include the conditions they had to practice their craft in – specifically combat and stunt work – to get extra money; how if you were good at stunt work you could make a decent wage – which was not the norm at Toei; the decline of the Samurai film at Toei and the rise of the Yakuza film – how this began his career of art and Tattooing first in the studio for productions; stories from the various productions – some needing upwards of 100 Yakuza to be “tattooed”, the way that they needed to consult for accurate tools used – he learning about these; the decline of the Yakuza films and his work on Television for Toei; how became involved with Yakuza Wives; and much more. Mouri gives one of the more fascinating interviews of a very interesting career. This is an absolute must-watch even if one has a passing interest in Yakuza films. In Japanese with English Subtitles.
Trailers (3:45) – two trailers. In Japanese with English Subtitles.
Still Gallery (4:19) – the image gallery consisting of production photos and poster art runs automatically with the score playing in the background.
The Final Thought
88 Films continues to curate some of the best in Asian genre cinema. Recommended.
Yakuza Wives details how two sisters are torn apart as a proxy war erupts in this searing crime thriller. New to Blu-ray from 88 Films.
The Film
Note: The film features scenes sexual assault.
Many of the even the best Yakuza films (Crime films in general not just those from Japan) leave the women of these worlds as simple Molls or Damsels or Pixie Dream Girls of a life outside of the criminal underworld. Always treated as objects never as real characters and their part of the world they’ve been sometimes coerced or duped into. Director Hideo Gosha film Yakuza Wives goes in direct opposition of that. Adaptated by screenwriter Kōji Takada from a book by Shôko Ieda in which she interviewed many Yakuza Wives about their experiences. The result is a riveting and often harrowing account of these wives some who have more power than one would expect and others who are helpless to their husband’s manipulation and abuse.
Focusing on Tamaki (Shima Shinoda) whose has taken control of her husband’s gang while he is in prison. Tamaki dreams of her younger sister Makoto (Rino Katase) marrying someone respectable comes crashing down as psychotic Yakuza enforcer Taichi (Riki Takeuchi) from a rival gang, rapes her and begins an abusive relationship with the young woman. As the gangs begin a proxy war the two sisters’ lives are changed forever.
Gosha’s film is as hard and sobering a look at gang life for women as been filmed. The film maybe considered exploitative especially in the way that Makoto storyline plays out with the sexual component and the raping of her character. Though Gosha’s film seems to be more progressive and showing us the way that Taichi uses that to manipulate the young woman to get her in his grips. Look at the way that Tamaki is subjected to similar abuse and how she traverses that and turns the table not allowing a Boss as a power move. Its these contrasting viewpoints that make one think that the film is not trying to be exploitative but rather critical of this life and the way that women of all types are subjected to the objectification and abuse of these men.
Yakuza Wives may not be for everyone. Its story is fascinating but puts a sobering and violent face to the cost these women endure at every turn. For those that do connect with Yakuza Wives will find an electrifying piece of existential crime cinema.
The Transfer
The 1080p HD presentations on Blu-ray from a master supplied by Toei is an excellent representation of the films. The films look sharp, and the color reproduction is wonderful. 88 Films has gone above and beyond to bring another great Yakuza thriller to Blu-ray with a gorgeous widescreen transfer.
The Extras
They include the following;
Married to the Mob: Mark Shilling on Yakuza Wives (15:41) – is what 88 Films is labelling a “Brand New Filmed Introduction by Mark Schilling”. More of a full-on interview with the critic discussing the film and specifically the social context of Yakuza Wives – discussing the film was based on in part of the book/profiles Shôko Ieda; how this differs from other Yakuza Women films and how it was more fact-based; the success of the film series upwards of 16 films including into the era of V-Cinema; director Gosha’s career leading up to making this film; how the film differs from Toei’s patented “sex and violence” type of Yakuza films and how Ieda influenced this with the writing; star Shima Iwashita and how she not a part of any Yakuza films until this point; the problematic nature of the sexual assault component of the film; and much more. Schilling give us a context for the film without spoiling much of the film.
Tattooed Underworld: Seiji Mouri on Yakuza Wives (24:57) – is an all-new interview with Tattoo Artist and Actor Seiji Mouri begins with how he began as a bit player at Toei and moving into full on actor/salaried employee of the company and what that life consisted of. Some of the other details include the conditions they had to practice their craft in – specifically combat and stunt work – to get extra money; how if you were good at stunt work you could make a decent wage – which was not the norm at Toei; the decline of the Samurai film at Toei and the rise of the Yakuza film – how this began his career of art and Tattooing first in the studio for productions; stories from the various productions – some needing upwards of 100 Yakuza to be “tattooed”, the way that they needed to consult for accurate tools used – he learning about these; the decline of the Yakuza films and his work on Television for Toei; how became involved with Yakuza Wives; and much more. Mouri gives one of the more fascinating interviews of a very interesting career. This is an absolute must-watch even if one has a passing interest in Yakuza films. In Japanese with English Subtitles.
Trailers (3:45) – two trailers. In Japanese with English Subtitles.
Still Gallery (4:19) – the image gallery consisting of production photos and poster art runs automatically with the score playing in the background.
The Final Thought
88 Films continues to curate some of the best in Asian genre cinema. Recommended.
88 Films’ Blu-Ray edition of Yakuza Wives is out April 22nd
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