Amagi goe

This is an adaptation of a short story by Matsumoto Seicho, Japan's most prolific mystery writer. Very few of his works have been translated in English, the most famous work being "Points and Lines", published under the title "Tokyo Express". Many of his novels have been adapted, often by Yoshitaro Nomura. His most celebrated film "The Demon" (1978) is one of these, and significantly superior to this one.

"Amagi Pass" is based on a short story published in 1958. A printing shop owner receives an order for 300 copies of a monography about an unsolved murder case from 40 years ago. It quickly becomes clear that the printer is personally involved in this case, as he was interrogated about it when he was a 14 year old boy. In flashbacks, he remembers running away from home and meeting a prostitute on a mountain road. After their encounter, the body of a drifter is found, and the prostitute is arrested on suspicion of murder. The viewer quickly comes to associate visual hints with the conclusion that this is not what happened.

The mystery part is easy enough to solve but the narrative style which saves the most dramatic part of the story after its conclusion has been revealed is quite interesting - a film noir in color. The revelation itself is, however, rather Freudian and comes across as a bit cliché.

The film borrows part of story from Yasunari Kawabata's novel The Dancing Girl of Izu, and reveals it at the beginning of the movie. However, as the elaborately crafted mystery stories was added, tension and thrill were added also, and personally, I feel that this movie has become a splindid movie beyond the original.

While Izu's dancers drew pure love for an innocent object that is difficult to exist in the world now, this film, on the other hand, portrays the protagonist's one-sided feelings toward a corrupted woman who is far from innocent. It is more realistic and easier to empathize with.

For some of the men in childhood, the first feeling of the first love is not just pink. The feelings of flame is not only love but also mixed by complex, frustration, resentment, or hatred. This film expresses such complex emotional moments in a really dramatic way. The editing of short breaths was also really good. There are no wasteful parts that needlessly sag.

It was a hidden gem, and The only sad thing is that I can't get another film of this director.