THE SEA IS WATCHING, 2002
Movie Review

A 19th Century prostitute in a Japanese brothel experiences the ups and downs of life with the assistance of her fellow workers.

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REVIEW:

To those who read my reviews on Wild Sound regularly will know that I like a cheaply priced DVD and review it for your pleasure. Bought once again for the princely sum of £1, I only bought it because of it not being an English language movie which in turn might be an enjoyable experience. Yes I admit that I have watched some utterly horrific non-English language movies which make me want to tear my eyes out with a screwdriver but this situation did not happen with “The Sea is Watching” as my eyes remained in their sockets and an enjoyable experience was had.

I have to admit that not all great films have been made about prostitutes. The subject can be a tricky one, and must be approached in a mature manner. Here, the protagonists are situated two centuries ago when samurais roamed the land and Geisha’s were an exotic treat for any eyes to see them passing by. Oshin (Tono) is said prostitute, and is just beautiful. Her fair complexion and darkly lit hair make her an ideal candidate for playing our downtrodden heroine, and here her closest friends try to help her through the woes she experiences in her love life. The main rule laid down by the owner of the brothel (mistress if you may) is never mix business with pleasure. But then again, rules are meant to be broken.

Full of iconic imagery that brings to mind the early Kurosawa movies, this is a gently shot movie which at times demonstrates that not every film should have CGI in it in order to create a good story. Possibly the scenic shots of the area might have had some form of computer enhancement in them, but they are hardly noticeable and this is not what you concentrate on. It is the development of the characters which work best in this film, as does the cinematography. And what an achievement it is.

The cinematographer of the film Kazuo Okuhara must surely be congratulated. The lights and darks of the scenes counteracting together so well you would be forgiven for thinking this was shot during the days of Film Noir, the interaction between the different colours is simply spellbinding which puts their European counterparts to shame.

Not all of the movie is based around Oshin, but also the other characters of the brothel who are both lively and full of energy. Kikuno has certainly been around the red light district business for some time, and after finding possible love with a long-time client she finds herself on a love crossroads. Will she find true love in this character or not?

Directed beautifully and acted to perfection, this is one foreign language movie which echoes beauty and reaps a magnificent feel about it. I understand that some folks around the world might dislike non-English language movies, but surely “The Sea Is Watching” would surely change these peoples’ minds as it really is a classic.

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THE SEA IS WATCHING