Gate of Flesh

1964 1h 30m JA

👍

6.6

SOLID

★6.6TMDB · 78

DramaCrime

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In the shady black markets and bombed-out hovels of post–World War II Tokyo, a tough band of prostitutes eke out a dog-eat-dog existence, maintaining tenuous friendships and a semblance of order in a world of chaos. But when a renegade ex-soldier stumbles into their midst, lusts and loyalties clash, with tragic results. With Gate of Flesh, visionary director Seijun Suzuki delivers a whirlwind of social critique and pulp drama, shot through with brilliant colors and raw emotions.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

Criterion ChannelSubscription

Cast

Joe Shishido
Shintaro Ibuki
Kōji Wada
Abe
Yumiko Nogawa
Maya
Tomiko Ishii
Oroku
Kayo Matsuo
Omino
Satoko Kasai
Sen
Misako Tominaga
Machiko
Isao Tamagawa
Horidome

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Seijun Suzuki
Writers: Gorō Tanada
Languages: English, 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

90 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

62 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Japanese.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Seijun Suzuki, shot by Shigeyoshi Mine. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Joe Shishido and Kōji Wada and Yumiko Nogawa carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0058409 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Seijun Suzuki directs. Shigeyoshi Mine behind the camera. Naozumi Yamamoto scores. Akira Suzuki cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in English, Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

190 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
262 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Japanese.
4Directed by Seijun Suzuki, shot by Shigeyoshi Mine. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Naozumi Yamamoto. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Akira Suzuki shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Joe Shishido and Kōji Wada and Yumiko Nogawa carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0058409 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 78 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
10Released under 12 different titles around the world.