Pornos! Now that we’ve got your attention…
No, we actually are talking about pornos. Well sort of.
Specifically we are talking about the ‘Roman Porno’ or ‘Pink Film’ genre, which began in Japan in the mid-1960s and had a huge influence on domestic cinema there for the next two decades.
The genre has recently been revived by the Japanese film studio Nikkatsu. Two of the new key titles they have produced – the erotic films Wet Woman in the Wind and Antiporno – are about to arrive on screens in Melbourne.
Here are the key dates for the Roman Porno Reboot Program, playing at sister cinemas the Classic and the Lido throughout July.
Classic
Thursday 12 July: Wet Woman in the Wind (2018) limited season commences
Thursday 19 July: Antiporno (2018) limited season commences
Lido
Thursday 12 July: Wet Woman in the Wind (2018) limited season commences
Thursday 19 July: Antiporno (2018) limited season commences
Like other movements such as Dogme 95, the formula for a ‘Roman Porno’ or ‘Pink Film’ contains certain rules. Although these rules have been bent with time, they were originally as follows:
1. The film must have a required minimum quota of sex scenes
2. The film must be approximately one hour in duration
3. It must be filmed on 16 mm or 35 mm film within one week
4. The film must be made on a very limited budget.
Wet Woman in the Wind and Anti-Porno have been received enthusiastically by critics. Eric Kohn from Indiewire said the former was “art porn with an emphasis on the art,” and Ela Bittencourt from Slant Magazine described the latter as a “feverish op-art dream that turns on us at every corner.”
For a taste, check out the trailer for Wet Woman in the Wind below.
