DISCLAIMER: Filmmaker Sion Sono has been accused of sexual harassment and abuse by several actresses in Japan’s film industry. To learn more about these allegations, please read this report by Variety and visit this Twitter thread by actor Yuki Matsuzaki.
Filmed in Ether does not tolerate any form of sexual misconduct and condemn those that abuse their positions of power. In light of these allegations, Filmed in Ether will no longer produce any coverage and publicity for any of Sion Sono’s films, new and old, moving forward.
As we are an Australian-based publication, please seek out these Australian support services if news of Sono’s allegations have caused you distress.
Despite frequent criticism over his depictions of women, Sion Sono has created some of Japanese cinema’s most compelling female characters in films that are bold and always thought-provoking.
In this video essay, we explore some of Sono’s women in Guilty of Romance, Tag and Antiporno — three films that explore female identity, sexual oppression and misogyny.
This video essay was narrated by and written by Natalie Ng and edited by Hieu Chau. It was also produced exclusively for Japanese Film Festival – Australia.
Films used:
- Suicide Club (2001)
- Noriko’s Dinner Table (2005)
- Love Exposure (2008)
- Cold Fish (2010)
- Guilty of Romance (2011)
- Himizu (2011)
- Why Don’t You Play in Hell? (2013)
- Tag (2015)
- Antiporno (2016)
Music used:
- Moonlight Sonata 3rd Movement (Opus 27 No. 2) – Ludwig van Beehoven
- Tombeau pour Monsieur de Lully – Marin Marais
- Pure As Snow – Mono