Watch Women of the Night

Women of the Night is a Japanese drama film directed by Kenji Mizoguchi and released in 1948. The movie explores the theme of prostitution and its effects on the lives of women in post-World War II Japan. The story revolves around two sisters, Fusako and Natsuko. Fusako (played by Kinuyo Tanaka) is a former prostitute who now works in a bar, trying to live a respectable life with her husband and daughter. Natsuko (played by Sanae Takasugi) is a prostitute who is still working on the streets, unable to break free from the cycle of poverty and desperation that has consumed her life.

The movie opens with Natsuko getting arrested and sent to a rehabilitation center, where she undergoes counseling to try and turn her life around. Fusako visits her sister at the center and tells her about her own struggles to overcome the stigma and shame associated with her past. She is determined to build a better life for herself and her family, but struggles to find acceptance from society.

As the story progresses, we see the contrast between the two sisters: on one hand, Fusako struggles to maintain her respectability and keep her past hidden from her husband and daughter, while on the other, Natsuko continues to work as a prostitute and faces constant abuse and violence from her clients.

The movie also touches on the societal pressure placed on women to conform to traditional gender roles and expectations. Fusako's husband, for example, is ashamed of her past and wants her to quit her job and focus solely on being a housewife. Meanwhile, Natsuko's mother is resentful of her daughter's job and blames her for their family's financial struggles.

Throughout the film, we see the complex and nuanced experiences of these women, as they navigate their relationships, their hopes and dreams, and their place in a society that does not make it easy for them to succeed. The performances of the lead actresses are powerful and nuanced, bringing depth and humanity to the characters they portray.

Overall, Women of the Night is a moving and thought-provoking depiction of the struggles faced by women in post-war Japan. Its exploration of themes such as sexuality, gender, and societal expectations is as relevant today as it was over seventy years ago.

Women of the Night is a 1948 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 15 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2.