Honoo to onna

In HONOO TO ONNA, the deep estrangement of a married couple, the troubling pursuit of feelings believed to be lost, and the questioning of maternal roles create a complex situation. Shingo and Ritsuko conceived their child through artificial insemination. After she finds herself drawn to the initially unknown sperm donor, a complicated relationship tangle develops between her, the donor, and his wife. With unusual shots, image compositions, camera angles, and movements, the director withholds easy identification and establishes himself as a conscientious craftsman.

After studying literature, Kiju (Yoshishige) Yoshida (1933–2022) joined Studio Shochiku, where he filmed his debut in 1960 and, together with Nagisa Oshima and Masahiro Shinoda, became one of the main representatives of Japan’s Nouvelle Vague. An innovative stylist and astute critic (and thinker) of cinematic forms and themes, his films are characterized by a philosophical depth.