Hana to hebi

Trying to sort out just which of this series in which is quite a task with three versions made in the 80s and then two remakes in this decade by Takashi Ishii, also under the title of Flower and Snake. I remember having a video with the title Flower and Snake 4 and believe that must have been the first Ishii film with the numbering ignoring the very first film. And after that preamble, on to the original 1974 Flower and Snake ( the box of which incorrectly credits Ishii with the direction!). Unlike the Ishii films which have all the tight bondage scenes but are a bit, sexed up, shall we say, this is very grim indeed at times. Having said that, one of the more gruelling scenes involving an extensive forced enema, the sequence is ultimately played for laughs! But then the first bondage rape scene ends up being played as romantic, so be prepared for anything and never imagine you will be able to anticipate a good Japanese film maker. Devastating and philosophical, horrifying and whimsical by turns, this outrageous and stupendous piece of film making ultimately presents us with the most controversial of images as the bound slave visibly controls her 'masters' and as the film closes on a freeze frame as cynical as any Bunuel, she recruits another.