"Women of the Night" is an amazingly blunt and hard-edged look at the life of some women in the immediate years after WWII. Japan was in ruins, the economy was a mess and unemployment was rampant. For ladies whose husbands died during the war, life was often VERY tough. This film is about two sisters who eventually find each other during the chaos of this era. Both are trying to make ends meet--but it's very tough. One finally gets what looks like a good job--though her boss turns out to be a total creep. She sleeps with him--not realizing that at the same time her sister is going the same. And, when she ends up getting pregnant, the man couldn't care less! From here, it's a downward spiral into the brutal world of prostitution. Is there any escape or is disease and death the only way out of this mess?
This is an odd film from Kenji Mizoguchi. Although many of his films are about the maltreatment of women and push for better treatment of women, this one is odd because so often it's brutal and realistic but at other times it comes off as exceptionally preachy and unreal--especially the ending. It just doesn't work and the film would have been better with a hard edge throughout. Still, if you can handle how depressing and awful the film can be, it is well made and gives a rare look into this awful period.
This is an odd film from Kenji Mizoguchi. Although many of his films are about the maltreatment of women and push for better treatment of women, this one is odd because so often it's brutal and realistic but at other times it comes off as exceptionally preachy and unreal--especially the ending. It just doesn't work and the film would have been better with a hard edge throughout. Still, if you can handle how depressing and awful the film can be, it is well made and gives a rare look into this awful period.