butterflix
Back to Explore
Story of a Prostitute poster

Story of a Prostitute

春婦伝

1965 · 1h 36m · Drama, Romance, War · Japan · Rated 18 (DE)

Volunteering as a "comfort woman" on the Manchurian front, where she is expected to service hundreds of soldiers, Harumi is commandeered by the brutal Lieutenant Narita but falls for the sensitive Mikami, Narita's direct subordinate. Seijun Suzuki's Story of a Prostitute is a tragic love story as well as a rule-bending take on a popular Taijiro Tamura novel, challenging military and fraternal codes of honor, as seen through Harumi's eyes.

Directed by
Seijun Suzuki
Written by
Hajime Takaiwa
Based on the novel by
Taijirō Tamura
Starring
Tamio Kawachi, Yumiko Nogawa, Isao Tamagawa, Shoichi Ozawa
Watch on Criterion ChannelTrailer
6.2Smart score

The TMDB rating, pulled toward the movie average (6.03) as if it had 82 extra average votes. Few votes means more pull.

TMDB6.6

47 TMDB votes · IMDb page

Trailer

Rate what worked

0 of 5 rated
Story
Writing
Acting
Pacing
Rewatch
Rate 10 titles to unlock picks matched to your taste0 / 10
Saved in this browser only.

Where to watch

Criterion Channel
Subscription
Watch

Where each service has it

Criterion Channel: available in 2 countries
Subscription · 2Canada, United States

Streaming data by JustWatch, via TMDB. Links open the JustWatch listing for Canada.

Style & content

buddhismchinacolonialismdesertdesertionhand grenadejapanmanchuriamisogynyprostituteprostitutionremakesecond sino-japanese war (1937-45)soldiertrenches
Rating18 (DE)

Keywords from TMDB.

Connected through the crew

Branded to Kill1967 · Cinematographer Kazue Nagatsuka, Writer Seijun SuzukiTokyo Drifter1966 · Director Seijun SuzukiReturn of the Street Fighter1974 · Writer Hajime TakaiwaYouth of the Beast1963 · Cinematographer Kazue Nagatsuka, Director Seijun SuzukiGate of Flesh1964 · Director Seijun Suzuki, Writer Taijirō TamuraLupin the Third: The Legend of the Gold of Babylon1985 · Director Seijun SuzukiZigeunerweisen1980 · Cinematographer Kazue Nagatsuka, Director Seijun SuzukiZatoichi's Vengeance1966 · Writer Hajime TakaiwaGate of Flesh1988 · Writer Taijirō TamuraFighting Elegy1966 · Director Seijun SuzukiYumeji1991 · Director Seijun SuzukiNinja, A Band of Assassins1962 · Writer Hajime Takaiwa

Browse lists

Best War Movies on Criterion ChannelBest Drama Movies on Criterion ChannelBest Romance Movies on Criterion ChannelBest Movies on Criterion ChannelBest Drama Movies of the 1960sBest Romance Movies of the 1960sBest War Movies of the 1960sBest Drama Movies of All TimeBest Romance Movies of All TimeBest War Movies of All Time