Kei KUMAI

Sandakan No. 8

サンダカン八番娼館 望郷

Nippon Retro   ² 

Keiko researches the topic of women who were sold into prostitution overseas during the early 20th century. One such woman is Osaki, who now lives in solitude and slowly opens up to Keiko about her youth in a brothel. Based on Tomoko YAMAZAKI’s book, Kei KUMAI’s film tackles a subject that is often regarded as taboo even today. Her touching portrayal of a woman left behind by society won Kinuyo TANAKA the Silver Bear at the 1975 Berlinale.

サンダカン八番娼館 望郷
Sandakan hachibanshokan bokyo

Japan 1974

121 minutes

Director
Kei KUMAI

Script
Kei KUMAI, Sakae HIROZAWA based on a book by Tomoko YAMAZAKI

Cinematography
Mitsuji KANAU

Music
Akira IFUKUBE