Luminous Woman (光る女)

First International Tokyo Film Festival Winner of Young Cinema 1985 Award Film by Director Shinji Somai

What’s wrong?

Where did you come from?

From Hokkaido!

In those clothes?

Tokyo is a lonely place, more so than I expected.

Why is that?

It’s windy and surrounded with garbage. This is Tokyo, right?

- Did you come to sight-see? - Nope.

- Did you come looking for a job? - Nope.

You’re strange.

You guys are too!

So this is Tokyo!

Where in Hokkaido are you from?

Takinoue.

It’s a place inland towards the forest, by the Sea of Okhotsk.

Takinoue, huh?

The way you are, you’re just like King Kong.

You’re like a doll, a doll without any blood coursing through its body.

You make it sound like you know what a real woman is.

Yeah, I know. Her name is Kuriko.

Kuriko?

Yeah, I came to get her.

You’re going back to Takinoue?

Yeah, we’re going to manage our own farm together.

She’s in Shinjuku studying accounting for it.

Is that so?

What?

Coincidently, I know a woman named Kuriko Sakura that came to Tokyo from Takinoue.

She’s working as a hostess at a snack bar.

- That can’t be. - You can see for yourself.

I can tell you where this Kuriko Sakura works.

- Please, tell me! - All right, I’ll tell you.

But in return, you’ll need to get bloody in the ring.

It’s wrestling without any rules. You may get killed.

I’m strong. I’ve wrestled a bear without losing.

The opponent's a human? Is it okay to kill him?

The audience will go wild when you kill your opponent.

All the middle-aged men with their young women...

You should do it!

A LUMINOUS WOMAN

This is what I was talking about.

I’ll give you 100,000 yen. Just fight with that muscular wrestler,

and I’ll give you 100,000 yen.

Isn’t that woman a singer?

She can’t sing anymore.

She used to sing ringside and attract the audience.

Mami-chan! Mami-chan!

All of a sudden, she couldn’t sing anymore.

Mami-chan!

So, will you do it or not?

You’re going to tell me Kuriko’s whereabouts if I do it, right?

If the Kuriko Sakura I know is the same as your Kuriko.

Get him! You can take him down!

Just like King Kong.

Stand up! Stand up!

Hana-chan!

Hana-chan!

Hana-chan!

- Hana-chan! - Hana-chan!

Welcome!

Welcome!

- Hana-chan! - Hana-chan!

I...

I used to be an opera singer.

Do you know the Scala Theater in Italy?

I don't!

I sang there too, though I didn’t have the main part.

Be quiet!

You’re ruining the song!

I'm sorry!

He’s also from Hokkaido.

- Where in Hokkaido? - Huh?

Well, where was it...?

Nemuro.

Yes, that’s right.

He was called the Tamasaburo of Nemuro with that act.

He’s actually a fisherman.

What is a fisherman from Nemuro doing in a place like this?

His wife left him. And he came to look for her.

He came to look for his woman?

It’s unsurprising that she hasn’t returned to him.

Why did your wife leave you?

I don’t want to talk about it.

I really want to know.

I’m clueless about women, so I really want to hear it.

I was gone for four years.

Where were you?

The Soviet Union.

From up north.

In Shikotan in Okhotsk, we were pushed further north.

It was a long four years.

Why?

Intrusion into territorial waters.

We were following a school of fish, and before we realized, their ship was right in front of us.

We lost everything, even the ship.

It’s hard, huh?

Being a fisherman.

Did you find her?

Huh?

Yes, I found her.

She was living with another man. She was happy.

She was more beautiful than when she was with me.

She somehow got bigger too.

And when she laughed, it filled the whole room.

I figured that’s what people call happiness.

In the mountains, In the mountains,

Use berries as make up

Maple as hair accessory, Boxwood comb,

Fox in the mountains, Mountain in the Winter,

Can't sew a kimono out of dried leaves,

No nice patters either

Can I get a drink?

I’m sorry, we’re having a private party today.

Can you please go?

Wait... what? What are you doing?

This place is so dark. Are you trying to save on electrical bills?

Sen-chan!

It’s you, Sen-chan!

Kuriko!

I was taken aback earlier, but you’re not so bad up close.

Can’t you do something about that beard?

I’m leaving now. Good night.

Me too, good night.

- Good night. - Good night.

- Thank you for tonight. - Yes, yes!

- Good night. - Yes.

Look at those arms of yours. They're like logs!

What were you doing in Hokkaido?

I did everything.

From cutting trees to digging tunnels.

The only thing I didn’t do was farming.

And I’m a farmer!

With a body like that, there are other jobs that will make you more money.

No way!

He’s from the country and is clueless.

I’m going back to Takinoue with Kuriko.

Right, Kuriko?

- Are you done? - Kuri-chan, you can go now.

- We will take... - I'm okay!

Sen-chan, I’m sorry but can you go on ahead? I need to finish working.

Then, let me know where you live. I don’t have a place to stay.

I live with someone...

A roommate, and the room is really small.

Does it hurt?

Yeah...

I don’t think it’s broken, but it’s probably fractured.

- You should quit. - What?

You have to quit. Next time it won’t be just a fracture.

What are you talking about? I always win in the end.

Like tonight.

It wouldn’t be a show if you won all the time.

There are many pros that are stronger.

I’ve seen many of them being taken in an ambulance.

Take my advice and go back to Hokkaido with Kuriko.

What’s wrong? I thought you found her.

I found her, but...

Let me go. I can’t breathe.

What are you doing?

Sorry, I wasn’t feeling well.

Forgive me.

Poor thing, I think he was dumped.

Don’t lay a hand on that woman. I’ll kill you.

Is she your girlfriend?

She’s a commodity, precious like a diamond. You are no match for her.

Hey!

Hey!

What's wrong?

- Hey! - I’m all right.

Are you all right?

That’s disgusting.

Oh my, that’s gross.

Hey, you two!

Get off!

But we can’t walk!

That’s not my concern.

Hey, you’re an inconvenience to the other passengers.

Come on.

Cut it out!

Stop making a mess!

I'm sorry...

Don’t ever get on! Stop causing trouble!

Are you all right?

Idiot!

Damn it, you two! I’ll never let you on the bus!

I’ll report you to the police! How dare they?!

Stop drinking!

Stop looking at me!

Don’t mind them.

But I do, I can’t help it.

I want to move.

Do you have any other place to go?

No, this place belongs to the master.

He’s letting me stay here while they’re waiting for the renovation to start.

I have no place to go.

Do you know who’s singing?

It’s me.

That was the past you.

You were an 18 year-old genius.

Now you’re just a plain human over the age of 20, eh?