The film begins with a stage being prepared for a puppet show along with a voice of a man (presumably the director) discussing the film, the love-making scene to be precise, with someone over the phone. It then cuts to the actual film and Jihei walking over a bridge towards a brothel. The scene ends with a cut on the drowned lovers underneath the bridge.
Jihei is going to visit Koharu, a prostitute he’s in love with and is ready to leave his family for. After discovering about Koharu’s reluctance to commit suicide together with him and her eagerness to leave him for another, Jihei decides to go back home. Jihei’s wife Osan is aware of his relationship with Koharu, but is eager to make their family life work.
Both Jihei’s brother and his father-in-law warn him about his actions, but Jihei can’t help but cry over Koharu. Seeing his sadness, Osan falls into despair. Jihei tells her that he doesn’t want anything to do with Koharu anymore and reveals that she will probably die soon. Osan offers to sell all her possessions so that Jihei can save Koharu. Osan’s father suddenly comes to take her.
The film cuts to the scene of Jihei being in brothel yet again. His brother is carrying his children around town searching for him. It is clear that Jihei has reconciled with Koharu, and they continue with their plan to escape and commit suicide together. They run all night and reluctantly consider whether they should commit suicide. They make love on a graveyard and as the morning comes realize that there is no other way of them to be together other than double suicide. Jihei stabs Koharu and hangs himself.
The film’s interesting and different aspect is its theatricality, both in the film set and the dramatic dialogues, but also in its use of a traditional Japanese element of puppet theater, the kuroko. Kuroko refers to men dressed in black who move the puppets for the play to progress. This element creates a disturbing atmosphere to the film, and could be seen to represent a more symbolic role.
It is also important to mention that the film is based on The Love Suicide at Amiijma play. It explores the themes of infidelity and marriage, of women and their roles in a traditional society and of suicide.
