"Be that as it may, SUSPICION still stands out from the crowd on account of its two polarized female protagonists, both regarded as "atypical" from the patriarchal society. On the one hand, Kumako is an inveterate temptress, who will stop at nothing to obtain what she desires, she might not be homicidal (not yet), but a sociopath nonetheless; Ritsuko, on the other hand, is a virtuous cynic asserting herself with a supercilious mien that can cow any member of the strong sex into humiliation. Kumako is a venomous cottonmouth, base enough to bring undoing to a weak-minded man, whereas Ritsuko is an elegant egret, lofty enough to dwarf any lesser mortals, her unattainableness can equally arouse misogyny among over-dignified menfolk. Putting these two together, it is a bang! Both actresses are consistently riveting to behold, Iwashita conducts herself with a self-possessed bearing to the T, and her "nasty look" is razor-sharp and indelible. Momoi, from her aspect, Kumako is a femme fatale sans glamor, totally subjugated to her primeval instinct and unmediated temperament, she is incapable of taking the shaft and when provoked, she snaps back right on the spot. Therefore, kudos to Momoi, an amoral and autonomous female character rarely seen in the Japanese cinema, both before and after, comes into being like a sledgehammer, and we are punch-drunk."
read my full review on my blog: Cinema Omnivore, thanks.
