the sea be watch be an interesting film experience . first of all and the overall feel be intense and internalized and claustrophobic and and small . each frame seem to be a photograph of something inside and something very focused and not part of a big picture . it be obvious what we be to look at in each frame . the physicality of the set itself contribute to that feeling of smallness and intensity . the light along the middle of the road cut the road in half and and the tiny gate to the tiny settlement follow by the tiny and few cubbyhole that serve a the establishment that make up what seem to be the entire town . even the view of the ocean be frame by a tiny landing on which one can count the number of long grass swaying in the wind . no panoramic view . in fact and it remind me of the montmarte sequence of moulin rouge where the camera sweepingly focus in to the windmill create again a feeling of a small area where everything be happen . while the acting be passable consider i really could not discern how the line be truly deliver and i felt that the action be overly melodramatic and nonsensical . why kikuno would continue carry on the way she do when fusanosuke announce his impending marriage really do not seem true people hadn not really change that much and and the character kikuno be so strong and resilient that even if they be busy take on o shin business for naught and the reaction seem out of character and unnecessary and distract . another example of odd acting be when the drunk boyfriend of kikuno show up and ryosuke decide to intervene and be push down the stair and the way in which he get up and menacingly come up the stair and the ensue fight outside among the reed be simply unsatisfying . it wasn not that i like fight scene au contraire but it seem a little stilted and again and overly dramatic . otherwise and while not a beautiful movie to watch and it provide an interesting glimpse into the darker side of prostitution ( a oppose to the geisha ) . unfortunately and perhaps it feed into our expectation of wanton woman ( the honey i will give you a deal comment support by the over stretch action ) and seriously cause me to doubt whether indeed 19th century prostitute really act in that way . but once inside the house and the inner working become most interesting and vivid and real and provide a scenario i never anticipate or imagine in my romantic view of japan in the 19th century .