The Key (1997)
The Key (1997)
HDTV 1080p | MKV | 1920x1036 | HEVC @ 3478 Kbps | 95 min | 2,42 Gb
Audio: Japanese AAC 2.0 @ 141 Kbps | Subtitles: English (srt)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Pinku
HDTV 1080p | MKV | 1920x1036 | HEVC @ 3478 Kbps | 95 min | 2,42 Gb
Audio: Japanese AAC 2.0 @ 141 Kbps | Subtitles: English (srt)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Pinku
Director: Toshiharu Ikeda
Stars: Naomi Kawashima, Akira Emoto, Mikio Ôsawa
Ikuko is a mature, reserved Kyoto woman married for many years to a respectable, now-middle-aged man. The only problem in their relationship has been that her husband is dissatisfied with her lack of passion during lovemaking. All this changes after they meet the young Mr. Kimura.
A take on DOUBLE INDEMNITY but with a few differences. For instance, nearly everything is done with the full knowledge of all the other characters, though not always with them knowing. The husband and wife read each other's diaries, the husband allows Kimura to take Ikuko out, Kimura beds and proposes to the older man's daughter in order to spend more time with Ikuko.
I was quite impressed. Although the pace is generally quite slow, there is a lot happening here, to which the above descrip and plot summary only partly allude to. Emoto Akira as the elder photographer gives a terrific performance, and both Naomi K and the younger girl are very sexy (both do nude scenes, Naomi appearing briefly full frontal).
I found it a little difficult to find a suitable genre label, but I think the most suitable description is black comedy. Kimura at first jokingly discusses killing off the husband and at first Ikuko resists the temptation to actually do the act with him (she calls out his name during sex with her husband instead, which the husband encourages).
Overall, if not quite a great film, it is compelling, edgy and at times very funny.
(click to enlarge)
The Key (1997)
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