Yurisai (2001), known as "Lily Festival" in the U.S., was shown at the Rochester Gay and Lesbian film festival. It was presented as a delightful comedy about older women and their sexuality.
I found this film to be demeaning to older women. It's true that women in their late 60's and older are often widowed or divorced, and that it's hard from them to meet men of their own age. However, I think it's unfair to present six women falling all over themselves and betraying their friends because an "eligible" man moves into their apartment.
This type of film is bad enough when a handsome man finds himself surrounded by a harem of giggling women in bikinis. It's worse when the women are older, unhappy, and lonely.
The film did portray lesbianism in a positive fashion, but only in the sense of, "If you can't get a man, a woman will have to do."
The woman who is treated most sympathetically (I believe her name is Chisako Hara), is a lovely and elegant actor. She deserves a better vehicle in which to demonstrate her talents!
I found this film to be demeaning to older women. It's true that women in their late 60's and older are often widowed or divorced, and that it's hard from them to meet men of their own age. However, I think it's unfair to present six women falling all over themselves and betraying their friends because an "eligible" man moves into their apartment.
This type of film is bad enough when a handsome man finds himself surrounded by a harem of giggling women in bikinis. It's worse when the women are older, unhappy, and lonely.
The film did portray lesbianism in a positive fashion, but only in the sense of, "If you can't get a man, a woman will have to do."
The woman who is treated most sympathetically (I believe her name is Chisako Hara), is a lovely and elegant actor. She deserves a better vehicle in which to demonstrate her talents!
