Street of Shame


Street of Shame is a 1956 black-and-white Japanese film directed by Kenji Mizoguchi. It is the personal tales of several Japanese women of different backgrounds who work together in a brothel. It was Mizoguchi's last film.
The film is based on the novel Susaki no Onna by Yoshiko Shibaki. In July 2018, it was selected to be screened in the Venice Classics section at the 75th Venice International Film Festival.

Plot

Five female sex workers are employed at Dreamland, a licensed brothel near the Sensōji Temple in Tokyo's Yoshiwara district. As the Diet considers a ban on prostitution, the women's daily dramas play out. Each has dreams and motivations.
Hanae is married, her husband unemployed; they have a young child.
Yumeko, a widow, uses her earnings to raise and support her son, who is now old enough to work and care for her.
The aging Yorie has a man who wants to marry her.
Yasumi saves money diligently to pay her debt and get out; she also has a suitor who wants to marry her, but she has other plans for him.
Miki seems the most nonchalant, until her father comes from Kobe to bring her news of her family and ask her to come home.

Cast

The production designer was Hiroshi Mizutani.

Legacy

directed by Tatsumi Kumashiro is a remake of this film.