A Man and a Woman Behind the Fusuma Screen/Review

The title may mislead some, but this is actually a sequel to The World of Geisha (aka Man and Woman Behind the Fusuma Screen). Kumashiro is still helming, and Miyashita appears in a supporting role. She plays a prostitute who steals a baby from her lover’s mistress and raises him as her own. 17 years later the kid, who still doesn’t know the truth about his mother, finds a better home with a married couple. They, however, are quick to notice the kid could be of use to them due of his sexual knowledge (he grew up in a brothel, of course).

Enduring Skin is a film that you recognize as Kumashiro's work already during the Nikkatsu logo (thanks to the folk song on the soundtrack). But it’s not one of his more ambitious films and seems like a throw away project. Usually the director is interested in characters and technical experimentation, but this film unusually heavy on sex (including some gay humping, which surprised me). You can see those Kumashiro touches here and there (b&w film clips, varying aspect ratios etc.), but it does make you wonder if the film was made only because the original was a hit. Meika Seri's supporting role, one classic line of dialogue and some history bits alone are not enough to save this overlong film from being utterly unnecessary

Reviewed by HungFist