This film was produced in the same year that the Japanese Diet was considering a law which would make prostitution illegal. The irony to that was that the government had not only condoned prostitution a few years earlier but actually encouraged it upon the Japanese surrender after World War II. The intent at the time was to keep American and other foreign troops cordoned into certain areas and away from Japanese women in the general population. In any case, conditions in Japan were rapidly changing and prostitution was now being frowned upon by a certain segment of Japanese society. Essentially, this movie begins at this time and follows the lives of several prostitutes for which the director (Kenji Mizoguchi) admirably manages to show us their point of view. Much of it is quite sad and depressing as a few of these women had certainly seen better days. Yet in spite of everything these women continued to persevere the best way they knew how and their courage was quite remarkable. Also of interest were the two younger females by the names of "Yasumi" (Ayako Wakao) and "Mickey" (Machiko Kyo) who had totally different outlooks on life but at the same time didn't seemed to quite understand the problems faced by the older women. In any case, this is a unique film that ends up being quite deep and profound and viewers interested in such a movie will certainly be pleased. Above average.
Review of Street of Shame
