Gushing Prayer – Graveface Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1971
Directors: Masao Adachi, Haruhiko Arai
Writer: Masao Adachi
Cast: Aki Sasaki, Hiroshi Saitô, Makiko Kim, Yûji Aoki, Shigenori Noda, Ken Yoshizawa, Kazuo 'Gaira' Komizu, Nagawa Torikawa, Kaoru Miya

Release Date: May 6th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 73 Minutes 34 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $27.99

"High-school student Yasuko, indulges in sex to liberate herself from a corrupt adult society. Driven by the encouragement of her peers to feel what it is like to be a prostitute, Yasuko sets out an odyssey of self-exploration in search of complete satiation." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "a 2K restoration from the original camera negative."

Gushing Prayer comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 29.8 GB

Feature: 19.7 GB

Though the source has been cleaned up, some imperfections remain; fortunately, nothing that is ever egregious. The image clarity, contrast, and black levels are strong, compression is solid, and there are no issues with digital noise reduction.

Audio: 3.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clear and balanced, and range-wise, things are satisfactory.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a video essay by Ren Scateni titled Pink Wave: The Revolutionary Beginnings of Pinku Eiga (9 minutes 13 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with non-removable English subtitles), a video essay by Clayton and Brad Dillard of Someone’s Favorite Productions titled Sex is Useless (17 minutes 33 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with non-removable English subtitles for Japanese film clips), a video essay by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas titled Beyond Exploitation: Post WW2 Political Influences on Pink Film (12 minutes 54 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a slipcover (limited to 1,000 copies), and a 40-page booklet with an essay titled Sex is Useless: The Separation of Mind and Body in Gushing Prayer: A 15-Year-Old Prostitute written by Michelle Kisner, an essay titled Welcome to Pink Film written by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, and an essay titled Cinema for Revolution: On Masao Adachi’s Gushing Prayer (Funshutsu kigan) written by Sam Cohen.

Summary:

A jaded young woman, known for her sexual promiscuity, sets out on a journey of self-discovery to understand why she struggles to find satisfaction.

There are two main differences between Pinku Eiga and Nikkatsu romantic pornography films. The latter tend to be more polished, with sex as the primary focus, while the former are often rougher in style and explore social and political themes. Case in point, Gushing Prayer, a film that leans more into social commentary than it does erotica.

The narrative follows a linear structure that's never difficult to follow. Though it is Yasuko’s story that unfolds, for most of her journey she is joined by three of her friends who also hold a similar world viewpoint. Her backstory is fleshed out with voiceover narration and flashbacks. That said, there is a deliberate momentum to the events that unfold that many viewers will find slow-moving.

For the majority of the cast, this is the first and only film. Their lack of experience works in this film’s favor by giving it a documentary-like vibe. Cast in the role of Yasuko is Aki Sasaki; she delivers a raw performance that is utterly believable.

Topics explored in Gushing Prayer include teenage pregnancy, abortion, and suicide. Gushing Prayer is overflowing with avant-garde style; the visuals are filled with many striking moments, notably a few sequences that are in color. That said, the sex scenes are tame when compared to other Pinku Eiga films. Ultimately, Gushing Prayer serves as a thought-provoking exploration that challenges the conventions of adulthood while celebrating the recklessness of youth.

Graveface Film gives Gushing Prayer its best home video release to date, recommended.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer