Imamura’s sophomore effort and first archiveable film (after Stolen Desire- also from 1958 which is a
miss)
This has a fully engaging narrative (largely from Lloyd Bacon’s Larceny, Inc with Edward G. Robinson
from 1942) and the first traces of Imamura’s mise-en-scene brilliance- shots
behind barrels, shots blocked by a ladder, shoji doors, etc.
Wipe edits
Shot of feet and moves up the body like Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train
A great shot of the four characters discussion their plan at
different depths
Reverse shot broken up by Shoji doors and windows
It’s a fascinating premise (Woody Allen would use it again in Small Time Crooks in 2000)
Overhead shot (used during violence scenes later in Imamura’s 60’s
work) of digging the tunnel
Imamura’s camera goes over and under the floor in a shot of
people digging- great shot
The frame is split in half by
a ladder at the time of the stairs several times— von Sternberg
Like all of Imamura’s work these people are from the seedy
underbelly—self-described “pigs” and outcasts… the word “pervert” is used 5 times
Like all of Imamura’s work sexuality plays an important role—
voyeur shower scene here and we get pretty graphic on some of the discussions
Shots through windows
The poisonous drink is lit like Hitchcock in Suspicion
Nihilism- murderous ending- everyone screwing each other over
[…] Endless Desire Imamura […]