THE BACKWATER/TOMOGUI

Japan, 2013, 102 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Shinji Aoyama.

The Backwater is a social and sexual drama, set in a remote town in Japan. It creates the atmosphere of the town, homes, shops, school.

However, the focus is on a young man turning 17, son of a father who is violent, especially in sexuality. The boy follows his father’s example, he also fears it. His parents are divorced, having met during the war, his mother separating herself from her husband but continuing to manage a shop in the town. The young man becomes involved with a fellow student, experiencing something of love, but also a liaison with his father’s new wife, who also wants to avoid the sexual violence.

His mother wants to protect her son, ultimately killing her husband and giving herself up to a prison sentence.

The Japanese have a tradition of exploring this kind of thing, even in extremes like In the Realm of the Senses and Empire of Passion.

1. The title? Indicating the town, the water itself, the remoteness of the town, people isolated?

2. The locations, the town, the, the shop, the water? Authentic feel? Musical score?

3. The narration, or experience, Shinko and her suffering, the loss of her hand, the artificial? The father, his roughness, with women, the brutal touches, the relationship with Shinko, the birth of their son? His growing up, his life, relationships, sexual drive?

4. The background of violence, sexual violence and abuse, fears of inheriting these drives?

5. The boy, aged 17, his birthday? His relationship with his father? His relationship with his mother? The stepmother? His relationship with his girlfriend? The sexual impulses, his fear of being violent like his father? The stepmother, sexual?

6. Shinko, the divorce, the brutality, the official, her work, love her son, discussions with him, wanting him to take over? Her giving advice? The effect of her husband’s brutality? The build-up, her decision to kill him, the stabbing, her being arrested, the interrogations? Her future?

7. The boy, the sexual experiences with his girlfriend, her pain, her concern, his concern? Her leading the town? The effect of the relationship on her, on him?

8. Stepmother, pregnancy, wanting to be pregnant so that her husband would not be brutal to her? Her being with the boy? The death of her husband, the consequences?

9. The details of life in the town, fishing, the market, sales? Her life, home life and the ordinariness? A context for violence and brutality?

10. A glimpse of life in this Japanese village?