Cruel Story of Youth 4K 1960

A rather amusing dynamic develops between the girl and the guy. The girl picks up some rich older guys on the road who agree to give the young nymph a ride home, and then—as if by accident—hints at continuing the party. But as soon as the girl flatly refuses, the older guys quickly lose their cool. That’s when the main character steps in, standing up for the heroine and extorting money from the older men by threatening to call the police.

The essence of the film lies not so much in the plot as in the events behind it. In 1960, a struggle unfolded against the ratification of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty, and Oshima’s film reflects the sentiments of students protesting against militaristic ties with the U.S., which violated the country’s constitution. The film’s protagonists are in a constant struggle—even if their struggle is doomed from the start—but it is precisely this struggle that gives this young couple a long-forgotten zest for life.

The overcast sky and the absence of any glimmers of sunlight leave the couple with no other option but death. Here, one might accuse the film of a certain melodramatic, leftist tragicism. But it is impossible to remain indifferent; using a handheld camera, the director follows the characters into the very abyss, taking the thoughtful viewer along with them.