Red Peony Gambles Her Life

© Toei Co., Ltd.
  • Sunday, June 3, 20:30 German Film Museum
    (Tickets only available at the German Film Museum)
  • 緋牡丹博徒・花札勝負
    Hibotan bakuto – Hanafuda shobu
  • Japan 1969, 35mm, 98 min, Japanese with English subtitles
  • Director: Tai KATO
  • Script: Noribumi SUZUKI, Motohiro TORII
  • Camera: Shin FURUYA
  • Cast: Junko FUJI, Ken TAKAKURA, Kanjuro ARASHI, Ritsu ISHIYAMA, Tomisaburo WAKAYAMA
  • Production & World sales: Toei
  • Film copy: Japan Foundation
  • With an introduction by Luk van Haute

With the RED PEONY series, production company Toei introduced a female protagonist in a Yakuza film instead of the usual male hero. A decision that proved to be right – the first film was a runaway success and spawned seven sequels. In each of the films, the wandering gambler Oryu comes to a town and is drawn into conflicts that, in the end, have to be solved with her short sword. With its sensual color cinematography and director Tai KATO’s trademark low-angle shots, this third installment in the series is definitely one of its highlights.

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