Street of Shame
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Year Released: 1956
Rating: 2.5
Several geishas in "Dreamland," a brothel in Tokyo, look for ways to change their lives or regain some dignity: all seem to be in dire need of money for one reason or another, but just can't get enough. Has one message - prostitution is bad - and hammers on it to the end: men are creeps and liars, women are mere objects, wives are dupes, purity and innocence are sold for top Yen. It's more or less a PSA in its day - albeit one made by a master filmmaker - that's basically a petition to the authorities to 'correct' the issue and 'save' these women (but can anyone really be saved...?).
