The Oldest Profession – Film Movement (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1974
Director: Noboru Tanaka
Writer: Akio Ido
Cast: Meika Seri, Junko Miyashita, Genshû Hanayagi, Moeko Ezawa, Shiro Yumemura

Release Date: March 18th, 2024
Approximate Running Time: 84 Minutes 50 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $41.98

"19-year-old Tome is a sex worker who draws in customers around the red-light district of Osaka. She lives with her mentally disabled younger brother, Saneo, and her mother, Yone, who is also still active as a sex worker despite being over 40 years old. One day, after receiving a request for a young girl, Tome goes to the designated inn. On arrival she encounters Yone, who is unable to find work. A few days later, Yone tells Tome that she is pregnant..." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Restored in 4K by Nikkatsu Corporation in 2021 from the 35mm original negative."

The Oldest Profession comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 27.5 GB

Feature: 22.9 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones look healthy; image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid; and there are no issues with digital noise reduction. Colors are nicely saturated and at times vivid for the one-color sequence.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, and balanced, and range-wise ambient sounds are well represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a trailer (1 minute 17 seconds, LPCM mono Japanese with non-removable English subtitles), a video essay by Japanese cinema expert Jasper Sharp titled Private Business & Public Obscenities (14 minutes 47 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), a spot gloss slipcover (limited to 2,000 units), and a 16-page booklet with cast & crew information, and an essay titled Osaka Eros written by Alexander Fee.

Summary:

Noboru Tanaka directed The Oldest Profession. In the 1970s he was one of the more prominent directors making romantic pornography films for Nikkatsu. The films Night of the Felines, The Hell-Fated Courtesan, A Woman Called Sada Abe, Watcher in the Attic, Angel Guts: Nami, and Village of Doom are among his other notable works. The Oldest Profession is also known under the title Confidential: Secret Market.

The Oldest Profession was the only Nikkatsu roman porno shot on film shot in black and white (there is one sequence in color). The Oldest Profession is a grim exploration into the world of prostitution in the red-light district of Osaka. By shooting the events that unfold in black and white instead of color, it adds a realism that gives a documentary-like view of this world. It was a stylistic choice, not related to the budget, to shoot in black and white.

The narrative revolves around Tome, a young woman who works as a prostitute. She is part of a dysfunctional family; her mother is also a prostitute, and she has a mentally disabled brother. Where her mother sells herself to survive, Tome does it as an act of rebellion. Besides Tome, there are other characters who weave in and out of her story; notably a young man with who she forms a bond.

All around, the performances are excellent, especially Meika Seri’s (Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture) portrayal of Tome. She delivers an utterly convincing portrayal that perfectly captures her character's state of mind. Though her character rarely shows emotion, she has a rare burst of emotion when her brother kills himself. Another performance of note is Shiro Yumemura’s (The Watcher in the Attic) portrayal of Saneo, Tome’s mentally disabled brother.

Though the focal point is prostitution and its effect on Tome, the narrative also delves into taboo subject matter. These are moments where Tome indulges her brother's perversions towards her. At 84 minutes in length, though longer than most romantic pornography films, the narrative drags or wastes a moment. When it comes to the sex scenes, instead of inventiveness to block certain elements, there is a rough around the edges quality to them. Ultimately, The Oldest Profession is an exemplary romantic pornography film, making it a must-see for fans of the genre.

The Oldest Profession gets an excellent release from Film Movement that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a pair of insightful extras; highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer