At the Tokyo International Film Festival, director Shinzo Katayama’s latest work, Lust in the Rain, a unique Japanese wartime fantasy inspired by Yoshiharu Tsuge’s 1980s manga, has generated curiosity and debate. Known for surreal stories, Tsuge’s work combines personal memories with exaggerated fantasies, leading to a cinematic journey that feels both unreal and intimately haunting. With an artistic yet unconventional approach, Lust in the Rain explores complex themes of love, desire, trauma, and war, portraying its characters in a way that feels both stylized and raw.
Katayama’s Approach: Exploring the Layers of Desire, Memory, and Reality
Following his notable thriller, Missing (2021), Katayama sought to capture Tsuge’s chaotic and layered style on film. Known for his surreal yet introspective storytelling, Tsuge’s manga often intertwines fragments of memory, imagination, and fantasy, creating a narrative that oscillates between dream and reality. Katayama’s adaptation brings these elements to the screen, attempting to honor Tsuge’s work while adding his unique vision. While Katayama trained under celebrated Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho, he brings a different intensity and aesthetic to Lust in the Rain, which stands apart in tone and ambition.
The story centers on Yoshio, an aspiring manga artist who seems unsure of what is real or imagined. Played by Your Name actor Ryo Narita, Yoshio is entangled in a love triangle with Imori, an older novelist, and Fukuko, an enigmatic woman with a hidden past. The plot blends Yoshio’s sexual fantasies and wartime memories, creating a layered narrative where eroticism and trauma collide. This artistic blend of intense themes makes Lust in the Rain a complex film, not easily understandable at first glance.
A Journey Through Complex Relationships and Personal Conflicts
At its core, the film’s focus on Yoshio’s unspoken desires reveals a journey of self-discovery and suppressed trauma. Yoshio finds himself fascinated by Fukuko, portrayed by Eriko Nakamura, and develops a tense relationship with Imori, played by Go Morita. Fukuko’s character brings a sense of mystery and danger, and Yoshio’s fascination with her draws him into increasingly surreal fantasies. Adding to this tension is Yoshio’s inability to express his feelings, with much of his longing and confusion manifesting in his art.
The narrative pushes Yoshio’s character into dreamlike sequences where fantasy and reality overlap. A prominent scene illustrates this, where Yoshio finds himself persuading a woman to undress in a heavy rainstorm, a situation that takes an unsettling turn. Katayama uses such moments to capture the darker, more obscure side of desire, reflecting Tsuge’s original work, where dreams hold power and fantasy often masks deeper traumas.
War, Trauma, and the Japanese Experience in WWII
The film slowly reveals a deeper historical connection to Japan’s past, specifically the country’s occupation of northern China during World War II. Through this lens, Yoshio’s experiences transform from mere fantasies to reflections of wartime horrors. Scenes featuring massacres and violence emphasize the psychological scars left by war, and Yoshio’s imaginative mind processes these events through disturbing sexualized visions. Katayama attempts to communicate the psychological impact of war on individuals, particularly those who may have suppressed their experiences to cope with its brutality.
This wartime context adds a significant layer to the story, making the love triangle more than just a dramatic affair. The characters are no longer just lost in a love story but are grappling with the traumatic aftereffects of a violent history. This shift in narrative brings Yoshio’s memories to the forefront, presenting them as a way for him to cope with his personal turmoil.
A Story That Blends Genres and Styles
Lust in the Rain is challenging to categorize. Katayama experiments with styles and genres, moving from scenes of intimacy to dark war sequences, alternating between surrealism and intense drama. The tone shifts quickly, blending moments of intimacy with horror elements, making it clear that this film resists traditional genre boundaries. For audiences unfamiliar with Tsuge’s manga, this can be confusing, as the story doesn’t easily fit into a single theme or emotion.
The actors bring a convincing depth to their roles despite the unconventional narrative. Narita captures Yoshio’s internal struggles, portraying him as a character navigating his desires and fears. Nakamura adds complexity to Fukuko’s character, creating an air of mystery that makes her both compelling and dangerous. Yet, as captivating as these portrayals are, the film’s fragmented storyline makes it difficult to feel fully connected to the characters or their fates.
Cinematic Style and Visuals: Crafting an Unsettling Atmosphere
Katayama’s style leans into the surreal, using visuals that contrast intimacy with the harshness of war. The film’s cinematography and music contribute to this unsettling atmosphere, balancing stylized love scenes with disturbing imagery from wartime settings. The scenes are shot with care, capturing Yoshio’s vivid imagination through stark colors and dreamlike visuals that mirror his confusion and internal conflict.
For some, Lust in the Rain may feel overwhelming, as the film’s structure is more reflective than explanatory, relying on mood and visual cues rather than direct storytelling. Its unique approach will likely resonate more with fans of Tsuge’s original manga, particularly those familiar with Japanese watakushi (personal) stories that mix autobiography with fiction.
Is Lust in the Rain For You?
Lust in the Rain requires an open mind and a willingness to explore complex themes that extend beyond traditional storytelling. For viewers who appreciate films that defy genre boundaries and present layered psychological portraits, Katayama’s work offers a visually and emotionally charged experience. However, the story’s surrealist style may not appeal to everyone, particularly those looking for a clear narrative.
Katayama’s Lust in the Rain delivers a unique cinematic experience that uses love, trauma, and surrealism to explore the complexities of memory and desire. While challenging to watch, its exploration of Japan’s wartime past and its psychological impact on individuals make it a thought-provoking film that raises questions about how memories shape us, especially when blurred by fantasy and imagination.
