A tale of the "madlove" between a prostitute and an enlisted soldier during theSino-Japanese War, Suzuki's harrowing film may be his most graphicallyanti-militaristic, a portrait of the violence-particularly towardwomen-that extends from the military mentality. Harumi (Yumiko Nogawa)volunteers to go to a Manchurian border village as a "comfortwoman" for a Japanese garrison-one of seven prostitutes serving athousand soldiers and officers. Harumi and Mikami (Tamio Kawachi), anenlisted soldier, fall in love; he deserts his post to be with her andboth pay dearly for it. When the garrison falls into Chinese hands, theChinese prove to be more humane captors than the Japanese. However,offered a choice between two nationalistic ideologies, Harumi and Mikamichoose the course dictated by mad love in an insane world. "Suzukicharacteristically shrinks from nothing in (writer Taijiro) Tamura'srelentlessly hardboiled account...not least because he clearly sharesTamura's view that the sex drive is a crucial part of the human will tolive." (Tony Rayns) Warning: Please be awarethat Story of a Prostitute, like Gate of Flesh, portrays elements ofcruelty and violence.