Adapted from Yoshiharu Tsuge's autobiographical manga, 'Lust in the Rain', directed by Shinzo Katayama, is a kaleidoscope of action, comedy and surreal erotism. Traversing varied tones, contents and genres, the film mirrors the erratic spirit of Tsuge’s wartime recollections.
Having worked as an assistant director under Bong Joon-ho, Katayama's directing style bears similar energy, though his precision and dark humour fall short in comparison. This ambitious period piece, over two hours long, initially confuses the audience for more than an hour before delving into more significant themes.
The narrative begins with an odd love triangle among Yoshio, an upcoming manga artist, Imori, an older novelist, and Fukuko, a femme fatale, living in an isolated location divided into North and South towns. Yoshio's sexual fantasies become his comic book material, yet unnerve the reality of his relationship with Fukuko and Imori, living with him in his small apartment, stirring an uncomfortable tension.
As the story progresses, the audience finds all the initial confusion is linked to Japan's occupation of northern China during World War II. Yoshio's fantasies appear less the musings of a lustful artist and more the traumatised visions of a war-ravaged soldier.
The film awkwardly balances adolescent desires, gruesome war effects, and erotic surrealism. While 'Lust in the Rain' encapsulates the chaotic intimacy of love and war, the stake and narrative credibility falter. Yet, for lovers of Tsuge’s watakushi manga, witnessing a translation of his idiosyncratic obsessions on the screen could be a unique cinematic experience.
