Pink Eiga: 'Anarchy in [Ja]panty' DVD review

In Jasper Sharp's tome, Behind the Pink curtain, he writes that 'The punkish Anarchy in Japansuke (1999) divides its time between 1981 and 1989, looking at how its hedonistic characters have grown up, or rather refused to grow up, throughout Japan's most decadent decade'. It is interesting when you come across a Pinku that is more than just a silly premise which exists to link together any number of erotic scenes. It just goes to show that within the Pinku film genre there is a diversity of themes and attitudes and Pinku cannot be shrugged off as cheap thrills and entertainment all the time. Some times there really are story lines and narratives. Director Takahisa Zeze has demonstrated that Pinku is capable of being more than just a series of scenes of writhing naked women. 

Those familiar with Pinku will know that many directors who worked or started in Pinku films have gone on to direct mainstream films. Takahisa Zeze, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Pink, is one such director. Held in high regard for his work in the Pinku film industry Zeze has gone on to direct mainstream films such as Pandemic. What I am saying is that that skill had to develop somewhere and a film like Anarchy in [Ja]panty demonstrates earlier in his film career Zeze's ability to create an interesting story and narrative within a genre that from the outside one would not think to find one there. 

Anarchy in [Ja]panty would succeed in broadening one's exposure and understanding of the genre. But I feel Anarchy nearly stumbles though because of - I wouldn't call them rules - but traditions of the industry. It is a shame that like most Pinku films Anarchy only clocks in just over an hour because the story seems capable of being so much more because it is the focus of Zeze's film. The erotic scenes are sparse, brief or not as 'encouraging' as one would... wish[?]. And because the film's strength lies in the story and not in the 'action' one can be left wishing there was at least another 30 minutes of fleshing out of the storyline, pun intended. Or, the other way, leaning towards... more... you know!