Tome is born into poverty in rural Japan, in the late 1910s. Chuji, her father, dotes on her; her mother is less faithful. Tome becomes a neighbor's mistress, works at his mill as World War II rages, and has a daughter. After an affair with a mill supervisor, Tome goes to Tokyo to seek her fortune. Tome's a maid at a brothel, learns trade from the madam, enjoys the protection of a businessman whose mistress she becomes, and is soon herself the boss. As Chuji ages and Nobuko grows up with her own ideas, can Tome's self-preserving schemes provide continued comfort?
With The Insect Woman, Shohei Imamura (The Eel, Black Rain) let's us follow a woman on a not so uplifting journey through life. We really develop sympathy for her, but also see her in a different light when she goes through some rough periods of time. Tome goes from innocent youth to hardened woman in charge. Imamura got the title from the idea of an insect that keeps making the same mistake over and over again yet doesn't give up, and like the insect, Tome always finds herself in another dark place but keeps on going.
Genre: Drama
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