Suffering of Ninko (2016) [Film Review]

Suffering of Ninko; or, Carnal Visions
     Sexual indulgence is sinful for monk.
The decade of the 2010s has undeniably shown to us that the future of Japanese Cinema belongs to young, extremely skilled, and experimental filmmakers. Apart from One Cut of the Dead (2017), Violence Voyager (2018), and Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes (2021), Norihiro Niwatsukino’s debut feature, Suffering of Ninko (2016), is yet another example of how fresh approach and low budget can result in a decent motion picture.

Release Info

Directed by: Norihiro Niwatsukino Starring: Masato Tsujioka, Miho Wakabayashi, Yukino Arimoto

Language: Japanese Original Title: 仁光の受難 Runtime: 110 min

Synopsis
Ninko (Masato Tsujioka) is a Buddhist monk who diligently follows all the principles and practises asceticism. However, there is one problem. Ninko is incredibly handsome which, in consequence, draws the attention of women and men around him. Ninko desperately tries not to succumb to bodily desires, but horrible visions of demonic lust continue to haunt him. Ninko leaves his temple and embarks on a journey. In the mountains, he arrives at a village that is plagued by a demon spirit who kills men…

At World’s End
On the basis of the synopsis, one could think that Suffering of Ninko is nothing more than an adult feature filled with NSFW content. This is not true at all. Norihiro Niwatsukino provides a great addition to the genre of Japanese ghost stories by telling the audience a tale about a virtuous monk trying to preserve his purity.

Indeed, there are scenes of nakedness but these are thoughtfully framed within the folk tale convention. Namely, the live-action adventures of Ninko are cross-cut with parchment drawings and animations which, combined with the narrator’s voice, create an atmosphere of intimacy, as if we are reading an old, forgotten myth.

The production design is spot on. We get to see numerous naturalistic settings which seem as if taken straight from the world of Zatoichi. With regard to performances, Masato Tsujioka does a great job as the main lead, especially in the scenes where Ninko is shocked and terrified. Hideta Iwahashi is also interesting as a bloodthirsty samurai, but he does not have a lot of screen time. Miho Wakabayashi is just chilling as the demoness Yama-onna.Qyoko Kudo really elevates the film with her narration.

Recommendations
If you want to see something niche, bizarre, yet visually-intriguing, then I recommend Suffering of Ninko. Third Window Films released the film in dual format on DVD and Blu-Ray. Their edition contains a trailer, interview with director Norihiro Niwatsukino and a short film called Strawberry Jam.Overall score: 7/10

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