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Released by: Impulse Pictures
Released on: March 12, 2013.
Director: Yasurou Uegaki
Cast: Rushia Santo, Toru Nakane, Toshiyuki Kitami
Year: 1982
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The Movie:
Directed by Yasurou Uegaki, 1982's Female Teacher: In Front Of The Students follows a beautiful young school teacher named Reiko (Rushia Santo) who takes a job at a high school only to be raped shortly after starting. Her assailant had a mask on during the whole ordeal and so she's not really able to identify him - though he did, oddly enough, leave a single puzzle piece in the shower area where he did the dirty deed to her.
For whatever reason - be it fear, concerns of a social stigma or just the fact that she can't identify the culprit, Reiko doesn't bother going to the police but instead decides to figure out who the rapist is on her own. This leads to a series of strange events in which Reiko tries to figure out not only who did what to her but why she seems to be both fascinated and highly aroused by what she's been through. As all of this is going on, some of Reiko's students take a dislike to her and decide to exact their own sinister revenge.
Political correctness be damned, this one makes no qualms whatsoever about playing the rape angle for kinky kicks. Whereas Sam Peckinpah certainly hinted at Amy Sumner getting some enjoyment out of being raped in Straw Dogs, here Yasurou Uegaki leaves none of that open to interpretation. What you get out of that in terms of viewing pleasure will, quite obviously, vary from one viewer to the next but this film takes us to some pretty dark places as Reiko explores her own sexual hang-ups while trying to solve the mystery of the rapist's identity. This leads to various sexual acts, some rougher than others, as well as some rather strong acts of humiliation and even some lesbian experimentation.
At the dirty heart of all of this is lovely Rushia Santo, a genuinely beautiful woman with soft, attractive features who looks deceivingly innocent here. More than just another pretty face, she's also got the acting skills to back it up. As such, as she deals with the rollercoaster of emotions that she has to deal with the in the wake of what she's gone through, she's convincing enough here that we're taken along for the ride. Yasurou Uegaki paces the film well, working in the obligatory sex scenes without completely taking you out of the story and without padding the film. The picture is well shot and features nice production values and an effective score. Despite all this, the content of the film is bound to rub some the wrong way - though keeping in mind that it is a movie meant to explore the correlation between aggressor and victim and that it is a complete work of fiction made by and for consenting adults, it would seem silly to get too up in arms about what the film may or may not be saying.
Video/Audio/Extras:
Female Teacher: In Front Of The Students looks great in this 2.35.1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. Colors are handled well and look quite natural as do skin tones, of which there are loads on display. Black levels aren't quite inky deep but they're strong and detail is pretty good across the board. There are no issues with print damage to complain about and overall this is a clean, sharp, good looking picture though it should be noted that a few scenes were shot with some softness in mind and that comes through in the transfer (as it should).
The Japanese language Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono track is crisp and clean though occasionally just a tiny bit shrill. The levels are well balanced and there are no issues with hiss or distortion. The optional English subtitles that are provided are free of any typos and easy to read. This won't floor you but it sounds fine, there are no problems.
Extras on the disc are limited to a menu, chapter selection and a delightfully salacious trailer for the feature. Inside the case, however, is an insert containing original poster art for the feature and liner notes from film scholar/author Jasper Sharp that provide some details on the film and on the cast and crew involved in the production. Sharp also provides some context as to where this film fits in alongside the other movies in the Female Teacher series and where Nikkatsu and their Roman Porno line were at during this point in their history.
The Final Word:
Well made, very well acted and considerably more challenging than some of the lighter Nikkatsu fare that we've seen from Impulse Pictures, Female Teacher: In Front Of The Students is more likely to appeal to those with a taste for the darker side of sexploitation. If you fall into that group, by all means, seek this out as it's quite well done. The DVD is light on extras but it looks and sounds good, making this a very worth addition to an increasingly interesting and diverse line of releases.
