Young Rui feels nothing until Ama chats her up at a bar in Tokyo. Fascinated by his numerous piercings and his split tongue, she begins a relationship with him and body art. Upon meeting Ama's cold friend and artist, Shiba, she slips into a love traingle that's more a square: Ama (kind and needy), Shiba (cold and powerful) and the various piercings and tatoos she collects on her body.
The plot is nothing new, but perhaps the added factor of BDSM as a woman's sexual awakening is new? While on the street and in public, Ama is violent towards those who would hurt her (and "nice" under the sheets), she allows Shiba to love her only through violence and degradation. She also enjoys torturing herself and dreams of splitting her tongue to please Ama.
Love, sex, life and pain are all explored throughout. What does it mean to live a life? More importantly, what does it mean to live a life with a lover? How do we seperate desire from necessity? Is pain a marker of a life lived? All three main characters are struggling to find a meaning and connection. A revelation towards the end suggests even Ama was insecure about his place in the world, forcing Rui to confront her actions, and the relationships she has with both men.
The acting, mainly from the young cast, is fine, but nothing amazing. Shiba and Ama don't get enough time to develop more than the different facets of Rui they represent, as the movie is played through her eyes. Yuriko Yoshitaka (Rui), does well as the conflicted protagonist, but dips into the hysterical well too often towards climax (a common trait in Japanese performance) that may be off putting for many western viewers. Still, if you're a fan of body art and the lives of young Japanese Yankee, you'll probably have a blast with this.
