Proving beyond doubt she has complete mastery over the medium, and then some, Japanese photographer Ninagawa Mika’s period film Sakuran さくらん (adapted from Anno Moyoko’s manga series of the same name) is an intense, explosive parade of rich, kaleidoscopic colors; a beautiful, almost jarring blending of hue, composition and form executed with remarkable skill and competency. No small feat, considering this is her debut directorial work.

Sakuran tells the story of Kiyoha (Anna Tsuchiya), a young girl sold to the red light district of Yoshiwara and her reluctant but eventual climb to become an Oiran, the lead lady of the brothel Tamakiku. By virtue of its subject matter there were quite a few explicit, graphic scenes of lovemaking in the film, (the lovely Kimura Yoshino in her first, I believe) but all were done with considerable taste. There’s the argument that this bohemian lifestyle glamorizes prostitution; I guess that’s open for debate.

In any case, Sakuran is an excellent exercise in cinematography studies, and the value of its cinematic aesthetics worthy of a look. I’ve just ordered the 2 disc special edition dvd and will post some pictures of it when it arrives; there’s also an official pictorial for sale.

*Update 06/12 – The blu-ray for Sakuran is now on sale.