On the Beach

1985 1h 7m JA

😐

5.6

MID

⭐

6.7

IMDB

★5.6TMDB · 21★6.7IMDB · 60

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In a summer in Shonan village, Sumiko is the daughter of an important upper-class Shikishima family, she loves to paint pictures, is going through a cooling-off of an arranged marriage that did not work out. However, she feels attraction for Nishina a rough and obscene man ... On the other hand, the younger sister, Naomi Sumiko is envious of her sister for her beauty. Naomi feels ugly since all men seem to like Sumiko. Both sisters then become embroiled in a major problem in discovering the real intentions of Nishina, a man who hides behind a mask to rape women.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Rei Akasaka
Sumiko Shikishima(敷島澄子)
Aki Hayasaka
Naomi Shikishima(敷島直美)
Hideaki Tezuka
Michitarô Ogisu / Servant of the villa(荻須道太郎)
Sadami Sakamoto
Tsuguo Nishina(仁科継男)
Ranko Mizuki
Moeko Shikishima - Sumiko's Step Mother(敷島萌子)
Rena Kuroki
Machiko Machidori - Michitarô's Girl(待鳥まち子)
赤坂丽

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Junichi Suzuki
Writers: Yu Mitsui
Languages: Japanese
Countries: Japan

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 67-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

41 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Flesh Slave Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Junichi Suzuki, shot by Teio Noda. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Yoshimasa Mine. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Shigeru Okuhara shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Rei Akasaka and Aki Hayasaka and Hideaki Tezuka carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Junichi Suzuki directs. Teio Noda behind the camera. Yoshimasa Mine scores. Shigeru Okuhara cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 67-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
241 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Part of the "Flesh Slave Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
4Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
5Directed by Junichi Suzuki, shot by Teio Noda. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Yoshimasa Mine. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Shigeru Okuhara shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Rei Akasaka and Aki Hayasaka and Hideaki Tezuka carry the top of the cast.
9IMDB entry: tt0288189 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Only 21 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Teio Noda
Original score: Yoshimasa Mine
Editing: Shigeru Okuhara
Runtime: 67 min · 1h 7m
Status: Released
Original language: JA
Certification (US): R18+
IMDB: On the Beach (1985)
IMDB rating: 6.7/10 · 60 votes

Part of

Flesh Slave Collection

This trilogy explores themes of sexual abuse, revenge, and complex human relationships. The films combine romance, horror, and thriller genres, highlighting societal issues like consent, inappropriate relationships, and bullying. They delve into the consequences of illicit sexual relations and the lasting impact of sexual abuse. The trilogy critically examines human relationships, loyalty, and the consequences of rash actions driven by emotions. Notable for unconventional narratives, artistic cinematography, and remarkable performances, the films explore obsession, deceit, revenge, and familial toxicity. The trilogy has received acclaim for its honest exploration of contemporary issues surrounding gender, sexuality, and societal relationships.