One of my all-time favorite documentary filmmakers is Kazuo Hara. Most recently, I saw Extreme Private Eros: Love Song 1974, which followed the life of Hara's ex-lover and baby mommy, a woman named Miyuki Takeda. He starts filming her around the time when she moves out of their Tokyo apartment to find new life in Okinawa. Then he takes several trips to Okinawa to document her life there. Miyuki's a fascinating character, and he portrays her in a very raw, human way that my words are not apt to describe. She fights with her lesbian lover shamelessly on camera, until the lover leaves her. She works at the 70s counterpart to a hostess club and has an affair with a black Marine. She establishes a close friendship with a strong-willed prostitute. She ultimately leaves Okinawa to give birth in peace to her and the black Marine's daughter. At each pivotal moment in her life, Hara shows up with his video camera and his assistant (later the mother of his second child), filming and supporting her from a close but safe distance.
Private Eros also has two of the most graphic, intense, uncensored live birth scenes I have ever witnessed. Pictured above is Miyuki (left) being interviewed by Sachiko Kobayashi, Hara's assistant/lover.
Is this avaliable on DVD? With english subtitles?
Posted by: Jorden Randall | January 24, 2007 at 12:37 PM
Agreed. I'd really like to see this. Is there some place where it is available? Subtitles are not necessary, it sounds like it would still be interesting to watch.
Posted by: B | January 25, 2007 at 08:24 AM
I'm not sure. I know it's not on Netflix--might be hard to find a copy. I saw it at a film festival in San Francisco.
Posted by: Lisa | January 26, 2007 at 06:47 PM
There is a Japanese R2 DVD. No English subs as you would expect.
http://us.yesasia.com/en/PrdDept.aspx/code-j/section-videos/pid-1002803006/
Posted by: jrsmith | January 27, 2007 at 08:31 PM
I actually met Kazuo Hara when I was doing my post grad work at the University of Iowa -- he was there for a conference on Japanese cinema. I picked him up from the airport in my 12 year old 1980 Chevette and drove him to the campus party that evening. He was tired so we only chatted a little bit, but he was super nice. Didn't want me to call him "Sensei," just Hara-san. "Yuki-Yukite Shingun," about the atrocities committed even on each other (incl. cannibalism) by members of the Imperial Army, was the movie he had done that I was most interested in at the time, but now I wish I could have asked him more about "Extreme Private Eros." Nice man, with an incredible talent. Thanks for your post.
Posted by: Jenny | January 28, 2007 at 06:35 AM
You can order a DVD of Extreme Private Eros: Love Song 1974 (with English subtitles) from www.superhappyfun.com.
Posted by: basebalzac | February 09, 2007 at 10:05 AM