Pigs and Battleships

As American battleships congregate in the occupied port city of Yokosuka, a chaotic microcosm of corrupt businessmen, merciless mobsters, black market dealers and seedy whores try to take advantage of the American presence to make a quick buck. Young Kinta, just a cog in the Yakuza wheel, tries to ensure his future by running a pig farm on their account, while his girlfriend Haruko is determined to escape her destiny, which either dictates prostitution or getting sold to the highest American bidder. Brimming with black humor and boasting an inventive directorial approach and a lightning-quick pace, this savage satire - which made Shôhei Imamura famous - is the epitome of his trademark style, embracing each and every one of its marginal characters, warts and all. Although a scathing criticism on Western intervention in post-war Japan and its flagrant exploitation by his fellow countrymen, Imamura still shines a light for anyone with a shred of innocence left in their heart. Th.P.

Original title: Buta to Gunkan

Σκηνοθεσία / Director: Shôhei Imamura

Σενάριο / Screenwriter: Hisashi Yamauchi

Φωτογραφία / DoP: Shinsaku Himeda

Μουσική / Music: Toshiro Mayuzumi

Ηθοποιοί / Principal Cast: Hiroyuki Nagato, Jitsuko Yoshimura, Masao Mishima, Tetsuro Tamba

Ιαπωνία / Japan

1961

Ασπρόμαυρο / B&W

108'

Ιαπωνικά / Japanese

* Screened on September 22nd and September 23rd