Sada

Obayashi tells the story of Sada, a mysterious Japanese prostitute. And he does so in a typical Obayashi way. When I first saw the film I wasn't all that versed in (Japanese) cinema, so it stood out. Watching it again, that feeling is not as strong anymore, but it's still a strong and accomplished film.

After she is raped at the age of 14, Sada ends up as a prostitute. She is loved by her clients and she slowly works her way up the chain, until she finally hooks one of the big shots. Her job has left her scarred though, and even though she is moving up in society, her mental health becomes quite unstable.

It's a dark story that has been featured in other films, but Obayashi's take is one of the more interesting ones. He manages to keep things relatively light, he makes sure the cinematography and performances are distinct and while the runtime is long, it never feels like the film is overstaying its welcome. It lost some of its appeal over the years, but it's still a very cool film and a must for fans of Obayashi.