Gate of Flesh – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1988
Director: Hideo Gosha
Writer: Kazuo Kasahara
Cast: Rino Katase, Yûko Natori, Tsunehiko Watase, Miyuki Kanô, Jinpachi Nezu, Kazuyo Matsui, Senri Yamazaki, Shinsuke Ashida, Seizô Fukumoto, Mach Fumiake, Masataka Naruse, Masaru Shiga, Akira Shioji, Jeremy Blaustein

Release Date: June 23rd, 2025 (UK), June 24th, 2025 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 118 Minutes 58 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: 18 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £16.99 (UK), $34.95 (USA)

"In the shell-shocked, rubble-strewn wasteland of postwar Tokyo during the Allied Occupation, a group of prostitutes band to together to form a makeshift guild with the aim of pooling their resources to build a dancehall called Paradise. As their independent existence becomes threatened by the hawkish parade of gangsters, black marketeers and would-be pimps all looking for a cut from their flesh-peddling, the discovery of an unexploded bomb in the cavernous burned-out building where they ply their trade throws their dreams into further jeopardy." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Blu-ray presentation in 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio".

Gate of Flesh comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 43.3 GB

Feature: 32.7 GB

The source looks excellent, flesh tones look healthy, colors look correct, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles. The audio is in excellent shape; dialog always comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, ambient sounds are well-represented, and the score sounds appropriately robust. 

Extras:

Extras for this release include a stills gallery with music from the film playing in the background (posters/stills), a theatrical teaser (52 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), a theatrical trailer (1 minute 53 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), an introduction by Earl Jackson titled Peddling Flesh, he discuss the various film adaptations of Gate of Flesh (22 minutes 9 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with Toei tattoo artist Seiji Mouri titled Flesh & Blood (11 minutes 33 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Amber T. And Jasper Sharp, reversible cover art, removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings and a 24-page booklet with cast & crew information, an essay titled Reimagining Gate of Flesh written by Irene González-López, and an essay titled The Pan-theon of the Pan-pan: Gate of Flesh / Carmen 1945 (!988) written by Robin Gatto.

Summary:

Gate of Flesh was directed by Hideo Gosha, a filmmaker best known for directing samurai films. His notable films include Goyokin, The Wolves, Violent Streets, and Hunter in the Dark. Hideo Gosha’s Gate of Flesh is the fifth adaptation of Taijiro Tamura’s novel of the same name. In 1948, directors Masahiro Makino and Masafusa Ozaki each directed their own adaptations: Seijun Suzuki in 1964 and Shōgorō Nishimura in 1977.

Post World War II, in occupied Japan, a group of women makes a living by squatting in a bombed-out building, which they want to renovate into a dance hall using the money they have saved.

“When a woman gets old, she’s taken out of circulation like counterfeit currency.” These words spoken by a male character perfectly summarize the plight that the group of women working as prostitutes are experiencing. It is a life that they have not chosen; faced with few options to earn a living, they resort to the only thing, the only currency they possess: their bodies.

From its opening moments, the narrative does a phenomenal job of drawing you in. It is these initial moments that we are introduced to the group of women who the narrative revolves around. Though each of them has a distinct personality, they all share a common goal, which reinforces their bond. That said, it is clear early who these women are and what motivates them.

All around the entire cast are outstanding, especially Rino Katase (Yakuza Wives), who portrays Sen Asada, the leader of the women who live in the bombed-out building. She delivers a remarkable performance that captures her character's strong will and fearlessness. Other performances of note are Tsunehiko Watase (Wandering Ginza Butterfly), who portrays Shintaro Ibuki, an injured former soldier that Sen and her friends help nurse back to health, and Yûko Natori, who portrays Sumiko Kitazawa a rival of Sen’s.

The two most powerful moments come via flashbacks, both of which are shot in striking black and white. In the first of these, we see the event that forever changed Sen and put her on the path she’s currently on. This moment is also tied to the present; a man from her past and from her present are the same person. In the other of these flashbacks, we see a traumatic event where Sumiko is gang-raped by a group of soldiers, and while this unfolds, there is a burst of red when someone is shot. Another moment of note is a scene where Shintaro brings a bull to the blown-out building, kills it, and feeds Sen and her friends.

Gate of Flesh is a character-driven film, and it is filled with a cast of colorful characters. Besides Sen and her friends, there is a rival group of prostitutes and a crime boss who wants the building they live in. Though there are many forces coming at Sen and her friends, it is someone from within, a woman named Machiko, who ultimately betrays them. Another area where Gate of Flesh excels is its exemplary production design; it does a superb job recreating post-World War II occupied Japan. No matter which adaptation of Gate of Flesh, they all have their strengths. Ultimately, Hideo Gosha’s Gate of Flesh is a solid adaptation that remains true to its source.

Gate of Flesh gets an exceptional release from 88 Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and insightful extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer