Tokyo Decadence

Though Ryu Murakami's 1991 film has its admirers, watching it requires a strong stomach and, particularly toward the close, an ability to suppress the impulse to laugh. Ai (Miho Nikaido, in an admittedly courageous performance) is a mousy, trembling call girl specializing in S&M. Searching for a way out of a life she clearly hates, Ai initially seeks the advice of a mystic (whose worthless instructions she scrupulously observes), and later tries to track down an erstwhile client whom she perceives as a possible savior, but her efforts prove futile. Most of the picture is devoted to extremely graphic sequences of bondage and humiliation, but these repetitive scenes are less titillating than repulsive, and they fail to achieve their apparent aim as a commentary on the spiritual emptiness of Japan's materialist society. The final act, which seems like a bad Fellini imitation, is so protracted that even those mesmerized by the preceding ninety minutes will probably find it hard to avoid the giggles. Sporting a fine DVD transfer, this extra-less disc is not recommended. (F. Swietek)