There is a well-known legend in a small village about a blind woman and her curse. The village was nestled in a remote valley surrounded by towering mountains. The blind woman had been born with her condition and had lived in the village her whole life. She was always seen as a wise and mysterious figure, possessing an uncanny ability to see into people's souls. One day, a group of villagers sought her guidance regarding a family feud that had been tearing their community apart. They believed that the blind woman's curse could finally bring an end to the conflict.
His attraction to the dark side of the subject is also evident in the love he had for Edogawa Ranpo’s horror narratives; A love that made him become one of the most important cinematographical translators of Ranpo’s oeuvre. Like with Edogawa Ranpo’s narratives, Ishii’s style began to be denoted as Ero-guro. This influence of ero-guro is also evident in Blind Woman’s curse, one of the last mainstream narratives Nikkatsu produced before switching to Roman Porno.
His attraction to the dark side of the subject is also evident in the love he had for Edogawa Ranpo s horror narratives; A love that made him become one of the most important cinematographical translators of Ranpo s oeuvre. While Blind Woman s Curse s narrative has thematic tones of loyalty, revenge, penance and mending one s ways, the narrative does not aim to explore these themes deeply.
They believed that the blind woman's curse could finally bring an end to the conflict. With hope in their hearts, they gathered around her humble abode, eager to seek her wisdom. As the villagers entered her dwelling, a hush fell over them.
Blind Woman’s Curse (1970) review
“Pleasure (…) is to be extracted from the visuals (…) so beautifully framed by the cinematography, and from the way Meiko Kaji with her mesmerizing performance synthesizes the narrative’s mix of genres.”
Introduction
The King of Cult: Teruo Ishii. With such a prolific and eclectic career, it is no wonder that Ishii is called this way in Japan. And while his oeuvre is eclectic, a certain attraction to the more darker and the more weirder side of humanity has always guided him. This is for instance apparent in his choice to direct the 8 entries of ‘Joys of Torture’ series (1968–1973), a series investigating torture in Japan in a historical context.
His attraction to the dark side of the subject is also evident in the love he had for Edogawa Ranpo’s horror narratives; A love that made him become one of the most important cinematographical translators of Ranpo’s oeuvre. Like with Edogawa Ranpo’s narratives, Ishii’s style began to be denoted as Ero-guro. This influence of ero-guro is also evident in Blind Woman’s curse, one of the last mainstream narratives Nikkatsu produced before switching to Roman Porno.
Review
Late 1920s, pre-war Japan. Akemi (Meiko Kaji), the dragon tattooed successor of the Tachibana clan, has to kill Goda, a boss of a rival clan. In a fight with this gang, Akemi accidentally slashes the face of Goda’s sister Aiko (Hoki Tokuda), who wanted to protect her brother. She falls down bleeding. A black cat appears and starts licking the blood of the victim. Suddenly the coal-black beast attacks Akemi, cursing her.
Three years later, after serving her jail sentence, Akemi is faced with the Aozora-gumi, a rival clan who desires to take over her territory. An additional problem arises when members of the Tachibana family start to die one-by-one, each death a stark reminder of the curse she is burdened with.
While Blind Woman’s Curse‘s narrative has thematic tones of loyalty, revenge, penance and mending one’s ways, the narrative does not aim to explore these themes deeply. These themes – common themes in Yakuza-eiga, solely act as an essential narrative structure to fit in the hotchpotch Blind Women’s curse has become. The narrative is at once a Yakuza-eiga, a sword-fighting narrative, and a comedy narrative – with Ryohei Uchida’s butt as comical attraction – mixed with the ero-guro Ishii is so famous for. The hideout of Dobashi (Toru Abe) for example has a room of half-naked opium addicted prostitutes, besides trapdoors and hidden mirror doors.
Blind Woman’s Curse doesn’t aim to present a cohesive narrative or to fully develop or to answer all the plot-points it introduces. It is pretty clear that this narrative is first and foremost an exercise of style and a weird genre-mix that just aims to be fun and entertaining (Narra-note 1, narra-note 2). Unsurprisingly, this entertainment is mainly to be found in the visuals as such and at the level the eye (of the spectator) in the act of looking. And while this is already evident in the opening sequence of the narrative and in some other sequences that follow, it is only the final showdown that fully embodies this stylish enjoyment. Beyond the abundance of blood-splatter, which will surely appease the sword-fighting audiences, the visual poetry is to be situated in the way the (framing of the) dragon-tattoo – from head to tail – is entwined with the framing of the sword-fighting as such.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise, that the cinematography of Blind Woman’s Curse is infused with some true visual artistry. And while this is most apparent in the framing of movement (i.e. the thoughtful application of slow-motion, zoom-ins, followings shots and other moving shots), this artistry is also evident in the attentive way in which characters are positioned in the narrative space and in how effective the lightning is handled in certain scenes (cine-note 1). Shigeru Kitazumi, the cinematographer, is really able to express his talent. And Teruo Ishii, he is successful in using Kitazumi’s talent to compose Akemi’s narrative in a very engaging way, even though the blend of genres lacks some fluidity. Furthermore, Hajime Kaburagi further supports the enjoyment of the narrative with the rhythm his music introduces.
Meiko Kaji is a truly exceptional in her role as Akemi and her mesmerizing presence is sensible captured and even exploited by the cinematography. The many close-ups – and in some instances even extreme close-ups – framing her face and her piercing gaze underline her elegant beauty, turning her elegance into a vehicle that keeps on enticing the male gaze.
People who expect to find thematic depth in Blind Woman’s Curse will be left disappointed, but this expectation constitutes a misunderstanding of the narrative as such. Blind Woman’s Curse is a narrative that needs to be enjoyed at the level of the surface of the narrative, at the level of the flow of imagery. The pleasure for the spectator is to be extracted from the visuals, the visuals so beautifully framed by the cinematography, and from the way Meiko Kaji with her mesmerizing performance synthesizes the narrative’s mix of genres.
Notes
Narra-note 1: As the narrative is first and foremost an exercise of style to be enjoyed at the level of the gaze, one shouldn’t think to deeply about the narrative. If one does think deeply about the narrative, it rapidly becomes clear that some plot-aspects remain undeveloped.
Narra-note 2: The presence of Tatsumi Hijikata as the hunchback has no real substantial narrative value, but his Butoh performance, a performance art he developed, is nevertheless a strange experience that, coupled with his other short appearances in the narrative, enforces the weirdness of the narrative space.
Cine-note 1: One aspect that is also worth mentioning is Ishii’s pleasing use of geometry to create a frame within a frame.
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The main plot thread is fairly simple. Akemi (Kaji) is the head of the Tachibana yakuza clan, and in the opening battle – shot in slow motion in the rain, because of course it is – she accidentally blinds the sister of a rival gang’s leader. A black cat, never confirmed as a bakeneko but dripping with echoes of Japanese folklore, leaps in and laps up the blood of the blinded woman. Thus a curse is born that pursues Akemi until several years later when another rival gang tries to usurp her territory, and she has to fend them off while her comrades are picked off, one by one.
The blind woman sat quietly on a small wooden stool, her sightless eyes staring into the void. She welcomed them with a calm and gentle voice, assuring them that she would do her best to help. Each person took turns pouring their hearts out, explaining their side of the argument. The blind woman listened intently, nodding her head in understanding. After the last villager had finished speaking, the blind woman fell into a deep trance. Her face contorted with deep concentration, her frail body seemed to radiate with a mysterious energy. The villagers watched in awe and anxiety, waiting for her judgment. Finally, the blind woman spoke, her voice carrying an otherworldly tone. She uttered a cryptic verse, her words filled with truth and foreboding. The villagers listened in silence, realizing the weight of her words. Her curse was not one of causing harm or misfortune, but rather a curse of reflection and self-realization. The blind woman's curse dictated that each villager would face the consequences of their actions, both past, and present. It was a reminder for them to reevaluate their behavior and seek forgiveness within themselves. It was not a curse that could be lifted or undone. Instead, it was a path towards redemption and healing. As the villagers left her dwelling, they were filled with a mix of apprehension and hope. They knew that the blind woman's curse would not immediately resolve their conflict, but it would force them to confront their own faults and make amends. It was a curse that would bring about a journey of self-discovery, ultimately leading to unity and forgiveness. Years passed, and the village transformed. The blind woman's curse had indeed caused hardships for the villagers, but it had also brought about profound changes. Through the lessons they learned and the actions they took, the villagers found the strength to mend their broken relationships and rebuild their community. The blind woman's curse became a blessing in disguise, a catalyst for personal growth and communal harmony. And even though the blind woman had long passed away, her legacy lived on, reminding everyone that curses are not always what they seem, and that even in darkness, there can be hope..
Reviews for "Finding Light in Darkness: The Blind Woman's Curse and Spirituality"
1. John - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Blind Woman's Curse" based on the interesting premise, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The story was confusing and disjointed, with unnecessary and awkwardly placed subplots. The acting was also incredibly wooden, making it difficult to connect with any of the characters. Overall, I found the film to be disappointing and unengaging.
2. Sarah - 1 star - "Blind Woman's Curse" is by far one of the worst movies I've ever seen. The plot was convoluted and lacked any semblance of coherence. The action scenes were poorly choreographed and lacked any excitement, while the dialogue felt forced and fake. Additionally, the characters were one-dimensional, making it impossible to empathize or care about their fates. I can't find a single redeeming quality in this film and would not recommend it to anyone.
3. Mark - 2 stars - I was really looking forward to "Blind Woman's Curse" as I am a fan of Japanese cinema, but this film was a letdown. The storyline was confusing and hard to follow, leaving me feeling disconnected from the characters. The pacing was also quite slow, dragging the plot along instead of building tension. While I appreciated the visual style and cinematography, it wasn't enough to salvage the overall experience. Unfortunately, "Blind Woman's Curse" misses the mark and fails to deliver a satisfying viewing experience.