Video Essay | The Women of Sion Sono

[@filmedinether8659]

DISCLAIMER: Filmmaker Sion Sono has been accused of sexual harassment and abuse by several actresses in Japan’s film industry. To learn more about these allegations, please read this report by Variety (variety.com/2022/film/news/sion-sono-sexual-harassment-1235224844/) and visit this Twitter thread by actor Yuki Matsuzaki (twitter.com/Yuki_Mats/status/1511458424323596288). Filmed in Ether does not tolerate any form of sexual misconduct and condemn those that abuse their positions of power. In light of these allegations, Filmed in Ether will no longer produce any coverage and publicity for any of Sion Sono’s films, new and old, moving forward. As we are an Australian-based publication, please seek out these Australian support services if news of Sono’s allegations have caused you distress. Full Stop Australia: fullstop.org.au/ Sexual Assault Support Service (SASS): www.sass.org.au/ 1800 RESPECT: www.1800respect.org.au/

[@ghostland8646]

he was never proven guilty

[@brandedtotroll9153]

His movies still deserve respect even if he is a terrible person. Was he proven guilty though? I don't know.

[@theredoctopus3196]

We don't care for your small minded left extremist side picking. Nothing was proven so get the fuck over it

[@peppbut9886]

The way Sono creates female characters always impressed me! This was really interesting

[@filmedinether8659]

Thanks for watching!

[@Skatterblaster5000]

I knew something about his use of women were something that always stood out. This video explained it well.

[@mollyken4827]

as a lesbian- my analysis of TAG is that its not only a comment on femininity but also on lesbianism. the way the girls exist to be consumed by men very highly struck me as similar to how misogynistic, homophobic men view lesbian porn for their entertainment. sono seems to be self aware and is commenting also on himself as the theme of lesbianism is a constant in almost all of his movies. it seems to represent innocence- love between women away from the world of men. they are more than "friendships" the flowers and feathers in tag that surround most of the scenes are common lesbian symbols, and the idea of innocent wlw relationships in a world of chaos is a direct opposite to the way the patriarchal world views lesbian love: dirty(in a sexual way) and for men to enjoy. tag seems to be a representation of lesbianism in japan- much deeper than simply feminism.

[@mollyken4827]

the lesbian symbolism is very obvious- the forced marriage to the pig man, the innocent love between two girls, not only is the male gaze towards women represented in this film but its very blatantly regarding lesbianism too. as a lesbian i dont know if its less obvious to non-lesbians but for me this movie resonated deeply with not only the struggle and expectations that lesbians face themselves, but also the way the world percieves and makes its mark on how we view our own identity.

[@jennifercole337]

@@mollyken4827 yes!! As another lesbian, that's a huge part of why this film really struck me. It's an important theme that I feel too often gets overlooked when analyzing the work.

[@user-pu1bs9eh7v]

"as a lesbian" stopped reading there.

[@caramel7050]

@@user-pu1bs9eh7v go outside

[@ghostland8646]

sono is still the greatest

[@ApocalexNow]

I clicked on this video out of pure curiosity and am now midway through a Sion Sono binge. Thank you. And I agree totally with your Guilty of Romance take.

[@Mysda_]

I started watching this video about a year ago, but stopped to see the films. Today I've seen all the ones used here and I can finally finish this video.

[@KillerFaceification]

I understood the message in Anti-porno, but this helped me to understand and appreciate TAG more.

[@ibraadlawan2005]

I remember this video essay almost immediately after learning Sion Sono's sexual harassment issue at the moment.

[@lu2828]

same bruh

[@lu2828]

how ironic

[@ghostland8646]

not proven guilty

[@pdzombie1906]

Just like happened to Mizoguchi, his denounce of women's treatment in society passes as exploitation or mysoginy. Great video, Thanx!!!

[@thefxbip315]

Sion Sono makes some of the most intense movies ive ever seen.One of a kind.

[@toxicyogurt]

The Forest of Love would fit well in this video, but it only came out last year. Looks like this video was just ahead of it's time!

[@NateS717]

Strange Circus as well.

[@samuelmercier3635]

I mean this guy as a cohesive vision in all of his films, so I feel a lot of great movies in his filmography could’ve been brought up in here! His latest, Red Post on Escher Street (which is one of his best movies ever honestly) could fit here to some degree too.

[@ghostland8646]

@@samuelmercier3635 prisoners of the Westland

[@VeryLeast]

This video reminded me of a question I've had for years; is there a reason why so many of Sion Sono's films feature a character called Mitsuko?

[@filmedinether8659]

We wondered this too while we were putting this together. Perhaps Sono has been secretly created a 'cinematic universe' of his own?

[@astrid-ko8ts]

VeryLeast Izumi too

[@naomizhao1544]

Mitsuko is Sono's first love. She represents the image of pure and erotic. Izumi is the name of Sono's mother.

[@naomizhao1544]

I found the information from a Chinese fansite years ago. There's a book published in 2012 about Sono's films in Japan and it talks about the story behind names of female characters. www.amazon.co.jp/%E5%9C%92%E5%AD%90%E6%B8%A9%E6%98%A0%E7%94%BB%E5%85%A8%E7%A0%94%E7%A9%B61985-2012-%E6%9D%BE%E6%B1%9F-%E5%93%B2%E6%98%8E/dp/4800300398

[@thewretchedexcess3203]

Megumi Kagurazaka who plays izumi in his films is his wife

[@indiankpoplover4580]

I have seen guilty of romance so many times means from 2018 & i still see this movies & the all three female character are mind-blowing means they are best at every thing i know you will understand what i wants to say when you see this movie.

[@pangpangpingpingpong]

This is a really good video essay! Can't believe you guys haven't made a video about Shunji Iwai tho.

[@filmedinether8659]

Eventually. ;)

[@odorutori]

Shout out to Natsuo Kirino, my favorite novelist.

[@MohammadDishan777]

Sion Sono is extremely brilliant.. can you make a video about his style of filming?

[@Minecraftgiraffe12]

Tag is absolutely my favourite film it just grips me rlly hard n i get rlly emotional lol

[@nagichampa9866]

Sono Sion is my favorite movie director in Japan, perhaps in the world. Tarantino le my favorite moviemaker in the USA...

[@colmobrien9558]

Absolutely fantastic in my opinion. What a great job you did.

[@josiahhamilton6559]

Sion Sono, Federico Fellini, the filmmakers accused of misogony often write great female characters

[@Andor.]

I just wanna say thank you for making this video! It's such a great video and perfectly articulates what i love about Sion Sono and how he tackles gender!!!!

[@KaweedFul]

Amazing video, can't wait to watch more of this brilliant filmography

[@cardcaptorclaire]

watching this on the day the allegations came out

[@Azvd824]

just watched Tokyo Vampire Hotel and I definitely see what you are saying

[@geezus4418]

This video didn’t age particularly well lol

[@ghostland8646]

sono is not guilty of anything

[@matteoteo126]

why?

[@luleane2398]

ghost pop tape is a banger

[@Shionshowa]

This director love panchira

[@Tan_San_Su]

This was a really well made video thank you!

[@somethingcleverhere]

Its kind of funny to move on from that description of Guilty of Romance to describing Tag as less subtle--I think there's great depth in Sono's work, but they're always strike me as very upfront with what they're about. I also find the protests that he has nothing to apologize for over-defensive, since Sono himself recognizes what he does- and reacts to it. For every extent he pushes, his tools are often from heightened versions of things, purity/depravity, etc, and the context of many of his best women are still men, rely on conventionally attractive actors and all sorts of usually unexamined traits, to great and interesting ends! Anti-Porno's success is from taking the expectations of the romantic pornography--a genre in itself. Sono's acknowledgment of his male gaze informs how he wields his movie to comment on and communicate with, well, a male-dominated culture. It's that awareness and his evolution with that knowledge that continues to expand his filmmaking, and it's not a defeat to admit it.

[@KepinHelmy]

and now I understand.....

[@angellu6857]

i wish more ppl knew about his films!

[@samhain2099]

WTF! I have seen Guilty Of Romance two times and those detective Yoshida scenes aren´t in it. So there´s a longer version of the film I guess

[@filmedinether8659]

Those scenes are found in the Director's Cut!

[@Pelztheo]

samhain2099 wait you watched this movie 2 time? Can you please explain me why the main character decide to become a prostizute and why his husband care that her wife is gone or why woman commissioner stand at the building

[@samhain2099]

Inthujan Kulasingam It was a long time ago, but, the Main girl becomes a prostitute cause the teacher advices her to always charge the men instead of doing It for free... The husband, cause he cares about his wife... No detective in the version I watched...

[@rebeccasmith9502]

Yes I was wonderning it too, I watched it three times and I can't believe there is a longer version...

[@ghostland8646]

@@rebeccasmith9502 watch it now

[@Hkamerica273]

Shinzo shone the women rapper

[@turtleandbear1179]

0:37 i had difficulties finding Sono calling himself out. Could you help me? Did you find this in an article or do have a video of him saying this? could you direct me to it?

[@ToyShaint]

He uses the same actresses a lot!!! I mean a lot

[@DocSportello838]

Yeah, she's his wife

[@ThrashXumer]

Now we know why...

[@robertoliccardo]

Sono is a god

[@HollowPie]

What is the name of the movie showed at 0:28?

[@Darlokk1]

Why Don't You Play in Hell? (2013)

[@HollowPie]

@@Darlokk1 thanks

[@ImpressionQuick]

Nahhh I think his story is a satire about culture and society. I don't think it's even about feminism or woman empowerment. Antiporno. I think it's a metaphor for society's view on porn. The hypocrisy of porn's sexual liberation and society's contempt of it is in full display here. There's no coherent story, because there's none. It's just ideas and concepts, bundled together to ask us viewers. "Sexual liberation is frowned upon in society, but the hypocrisy lies in how fetishized it is." At least for me, the story is about sexual liberation.

[@BrianMcInnis87]

1:46 It's 'on-wee'.

[@jaysherman9138]

I loooove this essay

[@estebanchaires7190]

Great video!

[@gk7003]

Sono is the best!

[@dimashekmatyar1439]

sono kinda remind of kim ki duk

[@brandedtotroll9153]

Both of them can be a bit twisted but they are also two of the greatest people to ever work in film.

[@jimmydbags1070]

Both have accusations of sexual abuse also.

[@ghostland8646]

@@jimmydbags1070 sono was never proven guilty plus the other one is dead so who are we accusing now

[@jimmydbags1070]

@@ghostland8646 how many people have come forward claiming he’s been overly sexual with them on film productions? Seems quite a substantial amount of claims. 🤔

[@ghostland8646]

@@jimmydbags1070 doesn’t mean it’s always right. once you too popular people just do be accuse you of anything for money and clout. sono claim the allegation are false and last updated I heard was he went in and out of court for the last couple of month and decide to sued a lot of the stuff for contain inaccurate information. He never was proven guilty. There no actual update since but I believe what I see until he proven guilty but he’s not. A lot of famous people got a lot of false allegation ( Johnny deep especially ) before was proven not guilty so I just wait and not jump to conclusion

[@raichu56k]

i love this video

[@zacksthetics]

hey filmed in ether, where can i reach the ether?

[@filmedinether8659]

By listening to Her songs. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYmzi6JsorCWqtk

[@zacksthetics]

the perfect answer, thank you was it as jarring for you to hear arabesque in antiporno?

[@filmedinether8659]

It definitely caught us off guard!

[@zacksthetics]

see you on the bbs friends

[@mylenovo2678]

Filmed in Ether Made video essay about All About Lily Chouchou pleaseeee

[@miguelconchavazquez3066]

Sono and Mono

[@YorgosL1]

Panchira

[@nitinnishant7783]

If all women were like Sono's women, that would probably be the end of human race. They would nuke the entire world while singing nursery rhyme with sheer bliss on their faces as they squirt all over the control panel... while some classical symphony plays in the background.

[@ghostland8646]

love love love sono 👏

[@Hlompi]

Nice

[@williamalderson3396]

Rubbish

[@sirgando3774]

Nah, his movies are in no way feminist. They include feminist characters but -gladly dont deliver a feminist message.

[@futuretell]

Tell me you dont understand Sion Sono without telling me you dont understand Sion Sono

[@sirgando3774]

@@futuretell i honestly dont care. the guy is a bit weird but so are all artists in a way. i just watch movies for entertainment.

[@joannejones363]

@@futuretell this comment did not age well. After the director's rape allegations

[@ghostland8646]

@@joannejones363 was never a rape but assault and was cleared that he was never proven guilty … don’t spread false info

[@marcoscardozo3500]

💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋