The Pornographers

The Pornographers is a 1966 satirical Japanese film directed by Shōhei Imamura. It is based on the novel Erogotoshitachi by Akiyuki Nosaka.

Plot

Subuyan Ogata is a pornographic filmmaker living in Osaka. His business is under threat from thieves, the government, and his own family.

Cast

Shōichi Ozawa as Subuyan Ogata
Sumiko Sakamoto as Haru Matsuda
Keiko Sagawa as Keiko Matsuda, Haru's daughter
Haruo Tanaka as Banteki
Nakamura Ganjirō II as Elderly executive from Hakucho Company
Masaomi Kondō as Kōichi Matsuda, Haru's son
Akira Nishimura as Detective Sanada
Ichirō Sugai as Shinun Ogata, Subuyan's father
Akiji Kobayashi
Shinichi Nakano as Kabō
Chōchō Miyako as Virgin House Madame
Kazuo Kitamura as Doctor

Production and reception

The film is a satirical black comedy, depicting the underbelly of the Japanese post-war economic miracle, in this case pornographers and small time gangsters in Osaka. It has been called Imamura's best-known film outside Japan.

Release

The Pornographers was released in Japan in March 1966 where it was distributed by Nikkatsu. It was released in the United States by Toho International with English subtitles in August 1966.