SANDAKAN NO 8

Japan, 1975, 124 minutes, Colour.
Komaki Kurihara, Yoko Takahaski, Kenuyo Tanaka.
Directed by Kei Eumai.

Sandakan No. 8 is a fine film, warmly recommended. Full of humanity and moments of beautiful warmth, this Japanese film is also of interest for Japanese history. It treats of the girls officially exported in the early decades of this century to places like Sandakan, Borneo, for prostitution. This is a memoir of an old lady, who as a girl worked in the Sandakan No. 8 brothel, interviewed by a sympathetic history student who shares her poor way of life for several weeks, presenting in a series of vivid flashbacks the harshness of an ugly way of life in exile. Excellently acted, and a genuine contribution to an awareness of women's sensibilities.

1. The overall impact of this film: Japanese film and its qualities, for a Japanese audience, for a world-wise audience? A human document and human portrait of women?

2. The importance of the structure: the modern Borneo framework, the search by the historian, the revisiting of the historic places, the search for the graves in the jungle? The flashbacks in the historian's memory and her explanation of her researching the story and the reasons for her presence in Borneo? The flashbacks in this of the old lady's story? The cumulative effect if her story within the research framework? The overall mission together of the three time structures and their impact?

3. The introduction to Japan, modern Japan, the countryside and city, poverty? Japan and its consideration of its past? The early 20th century and the periods before World War II? The Japanese presence in Borneo, in Sandakan? The re-creation of those older days? Colour photography, period re-creation and atmosphere? The modern Japanese awareness of the prostitutes transported to Borneo and other places?

4. The importance of the goal of research for the historian? The emphasis on women and their place in Japan? The importance of researching the prostitutes and the past? The visit to Borneo, the fact that Sandakan No. 8 had gone? The importance of the search for the graves and their significance? Their survival of the war? The irony of their facing away from Japan? The film as a work of Japanese history, Japanese social history, Japanese conscience, the exploration of the status of women?

5. How engrossing was the historian's visit to the village and her discovery of the woman? The explanation of her research and her motivation? Her character, personality, husband and children? The importance of her encounter with the old lady at the bar? Her following her, her curiosity, the old lady's pretence of her being her daughter-in-law? The visual presentation of the poverty and dirt? The old lady's gratitude for her sharing food, rest, the neighbours? The impact on the old lady's life of this visit and the kindness?

6. How callous was the return? Did the audience share her curiosity and wanting to know the story? The importance of the sharing? The effect of the storytelling on the old lady, on her listener? As blended into their growth in sharing over the weeks? The sadness of the telling of the truth? The effect on the historian and her shame? The tolerance of the old lady and her gratitude for the kindness, allowing her story to be published?

7. How convincing was the characterization by the old Japanese woman? Considering her past, its reputation, non-acceptance in modern Japan? Her dignity as a person, her living through her past? Her squalor in old age, poverty? People's disregard? The importance of her memories? The bond between herself and the young historian? An insight into women and femininity?

8. Comment on the cumulative effect on the audience of her telling her story: the details of time and the passing of the years, the span of her girlhood and womanhood? The significance of her family and their poverty at the turn of the century, her having to go into exile, the status of these girls taken for prostitution, her brother and his wounding himself at her departure? The presentation of Borneo, life at the brothel? Her work, the eventual initiation into the work of the prostitute? The types of men she had to deal with, her age, fear? Her ignorance? Her gradual acceptance of this work, supporting her family? The importance of the love story and the shy innocence between the two lovers? Her supporting the young man, his story? Her disillusionment on his return and then his going off and marrying? The effect on her relationships afterwards? The clientele, the sailors, the men of Borneo, the Japanese? The hard times and their being bought? The greedy procurers from Japan and their policy? The change of attitude on the part of the Japanese government? The importance of the sequence when the two girls were drawn by lot for Cambodia? The tough woman who looked after the prostitutes and helped them? Her death and burial?

9. The whole process of foreign prostitution as part of Japanese foreign policy, the reversal of the policy?

10. The attitude of the Japanese on her return home? The brother and his wife and family and the rejection of the sister? Her memories of her marriage, Manchuria, her son, her son and his wife not coming to see her?

11. How vivid a portrait of a woman and a life?

12. How much insight into the history of the 20th century? Asia and the East? Insight into human beings?