The film’s director Masahiro Shinoda has done a beautiful job creating his work full of deep meaning and symbolism. The scenes, patterns, lighting, unusual style, and movement make the film stand out. This work is made in black and white. The story portrayed in the movie is set in Japan of the 18th century and follows the lives of two lovers, which are destined to be separated by many factors.
The trader named Jihei is in love with Koharu, the courtesan. Society will not allow them to be together because Jihei is married and has two children, and because Koharu belongs to her owner. The man has no money to redeem her from the brothel. In the end, the lovers commit double suicide to be together in the afterlife.
This story is shown as if it is played in a Kabuki theatre, the actors symbolize puppets, and there is the presence of the puppeteers, dressed in all black and hoods, they are the invisible force that directs the characters, they silently observe every scene.
The scenes of the film have distinct patterns, many straight lines. The outfits of the actors match the colors and looks of the surroundings. The camera often shows the scenes from the top to watch the characters and the scene merge.
The puppeteers sometimes participate in the action, their hands touch the characters, directing them, holding their shoulders. Sometimes actors freeze to let the puppeteers move and arrange the scene, change the decorations. Some of the scenes are accompanied by narration, a male voice that explains what is going on, it appears in the scenes where the samurai ties up Jihei at the brothel, or when Koharu’s letter from John’s wife Osama is revealed.
The narrator’s parts are a mix between talking and singing, that is also supported by simple music produced by a string instrument, its sounds are low and dramatic, and there is no melody in them, these sounds are mostly used to emphasize the words of the narrator.
The director uses striped and checked geometrical patterns in the locations. To represent the new surroundings, the quick change of shots of patterns is employed. These patterns create contrast for the scenes; the walls are covered in paintings or letters; there are fences and columns; all shapes are straight and correct.
The symbolism of the film is determined by the fact that the characters are constantly watched by invisible people in black with their faces covered. These figures resemble the image of Death in Western culture. It seems like the main characters were doomed from the very beginning.