The Sting of Death (1990)

  'The Sting of Death' (Shi no toge) is a 1990 Japanese film directed by Kohei Oguri.

  In present day (well 1990) Japan, Miho and Toshio are a married couple with two kids, going through a break up. Toshio is having an affair, which Miho is beyond upset about. Their marriage is in pieces, but they both try and make it work. After a few nervous breakdowns and even a suicide attempt, any attempt at an improvement is hindered by some terrible news about Miho.

  Oguri seems to be the Ozu of the 1980s-90s. Both this and 'Muddy River' are small picturesque films about small families in alarming, but not unusual, situations. This is definitely the most depressing Japanese film I have seen. It holds no barriers to the subject of failing relationships, similar to Antonioni, and shows the affects of the parents actions on the children. They are helpless in the countless fights Toshio and Miho have, yet they are the reason for them staying together. The consequences of cheating has never truly been conveyed in a film, but Oguri attacks the subject with a startling realistic interpretation, that includes suicide attempts, psychotic attacks and (SPOILER 1). The pessimistic story doesn't make for happy viewing. The film's story is somewhere between 'Scenes from a Marriage' and 'A Woman Under the Influence' but this is far more bleak and dismal. At no point does the story uplift the audiences emotions as it is just one gloomy event after another.

  As oppose to 'Muddy River', 'The Sting of Death' is shot in colour, with a limited colour palette, so only bright beige, brown and white colours are visible during the daytime and dark brown and white colours during the night-time. The cinematography doesn't try to be advanced; there are no open views or camera movements, just stationary camera-work with 80-90% of the film set inside. It feels like a film from the 1950s, with traditional houses and no technology. The simple look to the film is it's best aspect, and adds significantly to the depressing atmosphere.

  It's fine to look at, and is fairly powerful, but the film is not enjoyable whatsoever. It's fantastically made, however the tone doesn't make for great viewing.

TO CONCLUDE
Not a great date movie. Pessimistic and dispiriting. Powerful nonetheless.

SCORE
71

SPOILER 1 (highlight)-->a terminal illness<--