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Japanese Film Festival 2014 Retrospective: Punishment Room

If life's backdrop was nothing but hard shambles, what would people depend on for solace? Would they numb their senses to avoid coming to terms with the inevitable, or embark on a seemingly aimless route that spells alcoholism, claustrophobic parties, drugs, gang fights, greed and lust? Nothing could seem to stop that dangerous will from accelerating, not even the occasional family dispute. In fact, I don't think it wants to be stopped ever. Anything else around would most likely be reduced to dust over time, no matter how severe. That said, please take a step into Katsumi's world for a moment. His life story isn't any to boast about, yet there's something behind all that messed-up routine that yearns for a little more 'concern', though it would probably be against his own will nonetheless.

Shimada Katsumi is the main character of the movie 'Punishment Room' (Shokei no Heya), directed by Ichikawa Kon. This 1956 production is part of the line-up for the Japanese Film Festival 2014, held at the Gallery Theatre in the National Museum of Singapore. Incidentally, the festival is paying tribute to the late Ichikawa Kon by featuring 15 of his works under Retrospective. I've managed to catch Punishment Room this afternoon (Singapore time: 4:30pm). Even though the movie is nearly 60 years old, I was deeply intrigued by its presentation. Somehow, I feel that if the film wasn't in black and white, everything about it wouldn't have turned out just as haunting. Ah, I don't mean that in the horror sense though.

The story begins with a sickly but alert (a little odd I know) middle-aged man looking blankly over an abundant field of wheat. He visits a bakery as an attempt to entice the owner into a business relationship. Later, he goes to the bank (he works there) only to discover Katsumi and another man waiting. Katsumi is the middle-aged man's only son. Instead of rising up to his parents' wishes, Katsumi cares nothing and only wants to indulge in all sorts of trouble to relieve his ever increasing angst. At the bank, Katsumi talks to his father rudely and manipulates him into loaning money to finance a dance party. The dance party involves a group of like-minded students and such. Later, Katsumi joins in a class debate where he meets Aochi Akiko for the first time. Akiko would quickly become Katsumi's object of affection, though the flames would later die off quickly as well. Katsumi's general lack of respect for others and himself also causes acts of unjustified violence and sexual assault. He and his friend provoke a rival gang at the billard room with rather comical results. I've never felt so much for furniture before. The onee-san (big sister) who keeps screaming in the background ("You will pay for the damages!") is simply...funny.

Then comes the more gritty portraits of Katsumi's actions. He mixes drugs into some alcohol and serve them to Akiko and her friend. What happens eventually is thinkable; Katsumi assaults Akiko without guilt and shame. As the movie was made in the 50s, most of the stuff were implied in various degrees. I suppose it also helps that it's a black and white film. Katsumi's relentlessness finally escalates to an unavoidable boiling point that involves the rival gang and surprisingly, Akiko. It is then we realise that Katsumi is simply better off untreated, because he has become incurable.

What else can I say? In fact, I'm still in awe of the movie! Kudos to the Japanese Film Festival organisers and sponsors for making those classics possible to be appreciated by modern audiences. I can't wait to catch more films! How about you readers? Anybody watched anything?

The Japanese Film Festival 2014 runs till July 12th. Visit its official website for more information.

Eccentrically Yours.

Written by J.Fluffysheep ♪

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