A Woman’s Testament (Yasuzo Masumura, Kon Ichikawa, Kozaburo Yoshimura, Japan, 1960)

An excellent anthology film comprising three determinedly unsentimental stories about the struggles of modern women. Despite getting on for 60 years of age it feels remarkably modern. Both in its depiction of women making their own way in the world and its sexual frankness (it’s certainly way ahead of anything coming out of Hollywood circa 1960). Masumura muse Ayako Wakao … Read the rest

A Wife Confesses (Yasuzo Masumura, Japan, 1961)

Housewife Ayako (Ayako Wakao) stands trial for the death of her husband on a climbing expedition in the Japanese Alps. An accident left Ayako, cruel elderly hubby Ryokichi (Eitaro Ozawa) and friend Osamu (Hiroshi Kawaguchi) – for whom Ayako harbours strong romantic feelings – dangling from a single rope. Ayako claims she cut the rope which sent her husband plunging … Read the rest