Love and Crime (1969) Meiji Taisho Showa: Ryoki onna hanzai-shi | Region-Free (DVD)

Title: Love and Crime (1969)

Alternate Title: Meiji Taisho Showa: Ryoki onna hanzai-shi

Genre: Crime, Drama, Horror, Thriller

Plot Synopsis:
“Love and Crime” is an anthology film that dramatizes notorious crimes committed by women during Japan’s Meiji, Taisho, and Showa eras. The film presents four distinct stories:

1. Takahashi Oden: The tale of the last woman executed by beheading in Japan.
2. Sada Abe: A passionate love affair leading to a notorious crime.
3. Kunihiko Kodaira: A serial rapist and murderer.
4. The Toyokaku Case: A woman’s ruthless ambition to own a hotel.

Each segment delves into the psychological and societal factors influencing these women’s actions.

Cast and Crew:

• Director: Teruo Ishii
• Writers:
  • Teruo Ishii
  • Masahiro Kakefuda
  • Shizuo Nonami
• Cast:
  • Teruo Yoshida as Murase
  • Rika Fujie as Kinue Munakata
  • Kenjirō Ishiyama as Kosuke Saito
  • Mitsuko Aoi as Chiyo Saito
  • Yukie Kagawa as Sada Abe

IMDb Link:
Love and Crime (1969)

Reviews from Letterboxd:

1. orinow – ★★★★☆
   “What we see during the first few minutes of Teruo Ishii’s Love and Crime is almost like a celluloid depiction of the changes that were taking place in Japanese cinema in the late 60’s.”
2. Thornhill – ★★★★☆
   “Teruo Ishii is no stranger to the format of anthology storytelling; several short stories with a common theme making up the runtime of the film.”
3. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer – ★★★★☆
   “Teruo Ishii tells four stories from real life (?) in which the common denominator is passionate crimes.”

Meta Description:
Love and Crime (1969), also known as Meiji Taisho Showa: Ryoki onna hanzai-shi, is a Japanese anthology film directed by Teruo Ishii. The film dramatizes notorious crimes committed by women during Japan’s Meiji, Taisho, and Showa eras, exploring the psychological and societal factors influencing their actions.