Chikan densha: Iyarashii kôi

This grainy, obscure pink film opens to a nightmarish sequence of a violent sexual encounter on a subway car. The scene goes on for just long enough to trick the viewer into expecting a sex flick with no story or point. The film shifts gears though, and focuses on the teenage boy who spends his days filming these bizarre subway sex happenings. He soon meets a girl his age, who is thrilled by the attention of the boy and his camera. We get to know this couple as two people who have been abandoned by their families, and because of this, they cling to each other and their intense, sometimes sad relationship is the focus of remainder of this short movie, which possesses a cold, industrial look very similar in style and tone as "Visitor Q," only not quite as nasty as that film. Originally called "Birthday," referring to the young girl of the story, who carries around a package of dynamite strapped around her waist, intending to light the fuse on her 20th birthday, and blow up herself, and her new boyfriend, in a suicide pact. Very intense and dreamlike movie, who's grainy look and oblique atmosphere work in it's favor. It's a true gem among the pinku eiga genre and is worth tracking down.

A young man videotapes women being molested on trains. That's where he meets a young woman who travels trains. Together they connect thru the separate paths of their lives.

This is part of the Molester Train series of which there are many (over a hundred) although much darker as the earlier films were often more lighthearted. There are several scenes of women being molested on trains but it is not the main focus of the story.

While being a Pink Eiga film and directed by Satõ there actually is no explicit sex, minimal nudity and virtually no violence. What you do get is two very interesting characters and their lives. There are several dramatic moments that stand out.

Yumika Hayashi plays the female lead and is exceptionally good. For those unfamiliar with her, she was one of the most prolific AV (adult video) actresses as well as acting in Pink & mainstream movies & TV winning several awards. Several documentaries about her life and career were made.

This is not a normal Hisayasu Satõ film. But it is one of his best. Highly recommended.