Saitankyori wa Mawari Kudokute (2019)

This film had a lot of potential but fell flat in execution...

I'll preface this review with saying I watched the BLANC version of this film which, to my understanding, is the same as the NOIR version with the exception of the last 10-15 minutes or so. If that's the case, I think there wouldn't be much that would change my view since the bulk of the films are the same.

So, story wise: I did rate it quite highly in that simply because the story had a lot going for it. There's a lot of very interesting issues that we see through Yuki's experience and this is where the main issue of this movie comes from for me. The depth that the story explores with the prositution and host scene could've been so great to expand upon and explore the toll it takes on those within such an environment...instead, there is a strange (almost comic or blasé) tone over the whole film that makes these things seem either benign or comical in some areas. That alone makes watching the movie just....confusing. As a viewer, I just wasn't sure how I was supposed to be feeling. So much happens to Yuki, but there's almost no time in the movie to experience him feeling it, or for the viewer themselves, to emotionally register these events. There is some really shocking events that come up and the movie takes such a non-challant tone shift each time they happen that is so infuriating. As a result, the sexual experiences Yuki engages in are just non-events as far as the movie goes. There's no feeling that he's changing as a person because of it, or going through anything at all...skipping those scenes changes the film in no real way.
I'll say this though: I have no issue with sex scenes at all, in fact with a plot like this, I'd expect them. But, I'd expect them to play some role...to be meaningful in some way. Rather, besides one particular shocking event, they just weren't. Now, if we're doing sex scenes just for the fanservice or what have you: that's where the tone of the movie gets in the way again. The scenes themselves came across in such a boring way that even trying to enjoy them for what they were was impossible.

The whole concept of Aoyama also came across as really unecessary to me. Given the meaty-ness that the setting of host clubs and male prositution bars already gives the plot, I don't know why they needed to shift the story to this chemistry-less and quite forced feeling relationship arc. I almost feel the story would've been improved by removing Aoyama entirely and instead watching Yuki navigate this tragic downward spiral he finds himself on....or, if a singular romance interest was really needed, the other key male characters he interacts with (like Ryoma the host club owner and so on) could've played as more interesting characters to build tension off of.

As far as the acting goes: it was good, I suppose. The main leads were pretty forgettable and the only scenes I do remember came from actions done by the supporting cast - which, I'll say, I had more fun watching than the main leads. In saying that, no one was bad either. The chemistry was pretty non existent between the leads, but I want to attribute that to more writing than an acting issue. Of course, I have to mention the cast did a solid effort with the sex scenes too. I can't imagine it's easy and most BL doesn't give the prologned and more 'in depth' scenes that this movie offers. So...there's that.

Music: Very passable and totally forgettable (and ultimately not necessary to even consider). On a partially petty note, I'll say they overdid it on the classical music scores. I know it's all supposed to be fancy underground clubs and such, but they could've toned it down on the same classical songs playing just about everywhere.

So, overall: there was a great deal of potential that this movie had, but it fell very flat in execution. I think it may have been due to having too much going on and therefore the execution becomes and messy and confused. It would've suited having just one direction chosen and really focusing in on that: either, the student/teacher relationship occuring years after a big life ruining betrayal, or navigating the host scene OR male prostitution. The movie overall could've really used a more focused tone as well: either it's going to be slightly comical or make it dark but whatever it is - pick it and stick to it. The wishywashy nature of the movie really tanks its rewatchability. I'll also add that I'm not sure if this is adapted from a manga...if so, then I guess there is a lot story/direction wise that might be hard to change due to the source material. Even then, i think the tone issue is more a reflection of directorial issues than any manga influence. I did really want to like this movie...it's a real shame.

Lire davantage

A promising plot abandoned

The movie starts with a narration and it immediately takes me out of it. Show don't tell. But soon it jumps into the main storyline where the ML now works as a host and has loads of debt to pay. No answers are provided how he came to work as a host after his graduation but here we are.
The narrations now takes a very different turn and the movie turns into a soft core porn. The ML is shown jumping from one sex scene to another with bizzare back stories of his clients making you wonder if those were necessary. They could have spent more time building the MLs character instead of showing kisses (tongue involved) and sex scenes with every character in the movie.
We don't come to know how the ML feels with these turn of events in his life. Is he sad or indifferent? Is money the only thing that he cares about? Too many questions that remains unanswered. Instead the movie goes for shock value.
It must not have been easy shooting all those scenes but the ML was convincing. The basic plot seemed strong and the movie could have worked hard in developing those characters and the chemistry between the professor and the ML. The cinematography was impressive and the music was good.
In conclusion, the movie had a good plot that was abandoned for sex scenes that did not help progressing it forward. There are 2 sequels to this and hopefully I might watch them at a later time.

Lire davantage

At first it doesn't even look like an erotic film, but everything develops. I was impressed by the actors of the main roles and also that the erotic scenes were very solidly and convincingly processed, which were really erotic, soft. And very truthfully, no sarcastic kisses and the actors (not porn actors) had to really slap each other, body to body, I was surprised by the Japanese "cheeky" tongues. That's why I give the highest rating to the acting for the persuasiveness. I already liked less the enforcement scenes full of violence, cruelty, torture, but that's my problem, not the movie's problem, brrr. The sound was also solid, classical music, sometimes piano, very soft, sometimes almost inaudible and surprisingly well colored the scenes where it was appropriate. And indeed, the link from tomase106 is with both versions at the end, the blanc version ends at 1:10:37 and the noir starts, but it has no subtitles, so I prefer karcikarl's links.
​



Zezačátku to ani na erotický film nevypadá, ale vše se rozvine. Zaujali mě herci hlavních rolí a též, že byly velice solidně, přesvědčivě zpracovány erotické scény, které byly opravdu erotické, soft. A velice pravdivě, žádné štítivé pusinky a herci (ne pornoherci) si museli pořádně máknout, tělo na tělo, překvapily mě japonské "šmejdivé" jazýčky. Proto za tu přesvědčivost dávám nejvyšší hodnocení právě za herecké výkony. Už méně se mi líbily vymahačské scény plné násilí, surovostí, mučení, ale to je můj problém, ne problém filmu, brrr. Zvuk byl též solidní, klasická hudba, někdy klavír, velmi jemná, někdy téměř neslyšná a překvapivě dobře podbarvila scény, kde se to hodilo. A opravdu, link od tomase106 je s oběma verzemi na konci, verze blanc končí 1:10:37 a začíná noir, ale je bez titulků, proto raději doporučuji linky od karcikarla.

Lire davantage

People, where is the condom ??

Many reviews have been made that I agree with so for me there is just one question left: Where is the condom ?
Everybody is having sex with everybody but protection is never mention, not even once !! This is out dated.
About the plot: well I love you so I'll just send you to prostitution ... (eyes rolling).

Lire davantage

No words.

No words.

This movie was beyond disturbing.

I watched the Noir version. And I'm at a loss for words.

The way it all end up playing out for Haruto/Yuki rubbed me the wrong way.

My question is how did Haruto end up falling in love with Aoyama/Mr. Aoyama? He, firstly, was just really weird around Haruto from the start. Like Aoyama was the biggest walking red flag and everything he did towards Haruto at the beginning was weird and creepy. Exchanging diaries with your teacher is WEIRD. Like nothing about that is okay whatsoever. Then he kissed him in his sleep...what? How. Does. That. Make. You. Fall. For. Someone? I am actually confused

Everything bad that happened to Haruto was tied back to Aoyama. That was fucked. Because his life was absolute hell.

After someone admitted all that to me, I WOULDNT SLEEP WITH THEM. Not that it is, you know, weird, but there has always got to be some anterior motive, and in that case, I was right. there was.

He wasn't actually in love with him. He, I think, just had a thing for teenage boys/younger guys. Because the ending showed him swiping through the pics and Ryoma, if I am not mistaken, WAS LITERALLY THERE SLEEPING.

I had to pause multiple times to rethink my life choices.

I truly don't think I want to watch the other movies.

Actually a bit of a spoiler (accidentally watched 45 seconds into the 2nd movie) **

Aoyama dies. ***

The acting also fucked with me. It was good. Too good. The actor of Haruto especially. He played the deadpan innocent naive young boy really well.

The music was solid. It transitioned the gruesome shots nicely.

The story. What. The. Fuck. Not at all hard to follow, but brooo felt like I was in a fever dream and couldn't wake up. It was awful. OMG. I just remembered that weird goat scene. Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why WHYYYYYYYY was that necessary? And the look on that guy's face, as he was following the red collar, was scary and is now ingrained in my head.

It's the end of the review and I still haven't come up with a rating yet...

Final rating, 5.5/10. That's the lowest I have given a show or a movie. So wow.

Sorry for the grammar errors, English is my first language. Just bad at it.

Lire davantage

Wish it was a show

I would have liked this to be more stretched out with a show, everything happened so fast! I did find it dark, gritty and I could feel for our lead. I just wish we could have seen more of everyone, it would make us feel even more for them.

I can't get over one thing, did he really have to go and do THAT?! Like, the man has lost enough thank you very much!

Although I enjoyed the show I really think it went to fast, so much information jammed into a short movie. I know there is a second movie that I will watch, but it could have easily filled a 12 episode show in my opinion.

This isn't for the faint of heart. I wish we would have gotten more of the dark and gritty side of selling oneself.

Lire davantage

Waste of time

Plot: I undestand the plot and the need to portray very harsh scenes to give the overall image of the prostitution world, but something was really unecessary.. the guy with the goat's fetish? I can't really think of a reason why put all this back-story to a passer-by character! So we have this kind of story but not the twisted final ending??? I get the first one, but the last one? Can't find a reason why sensei has to be so.. cruel? Overbearing in the most twisted way? He knew everything and above all he was plotting all along the guy's life? I can't even think of a insanely, passionate love, because he was always watching him with other men.. so why is all that?
Acting: didn't see a good chemistry between the leads, but i appreciated Yuri more
Music: nothing to say about it!
Rewatch: no reason to do it.
If you are looking for a good one i'd suggest: pornographer (+ spring life) or cherry magic.

Lire davantage

I never write reviews but this was so bad that I had to...

This "movie" is just... everything is terrible okay? The production and the music are a joke. The plot/story is so dumb... I really don't know how else to describe it. They're just dumb. There are millions of better ways to portray gay prostitution in Japan. There are millions of better ways to portray a teacher falling in love with his student... The explicit scenes were depressing to me but at least it made me feel something because the rest of the movie was so plain and boring. It made no sense at times to the point it was unrealistic because of how much it lacked any kind of depth. All the characters weren't even one-dimensional. They were zero-dimensional. It's like a very simple dumb cartoon but make it live action and pornographic.

Lire davantage