Kuroko
In Japanese puppet stage play kuroko refers to men dressed in all black who move the puppets and make the play progress. The use of kuroko in the film suggests its dramatic setup, but it could also be interpreted as having a more symbolic role. The men dressed in black intensify the uneasy and disturbing atmosphere of the film, and their handling of the characters suggests that they are not in control of their own destiny.
Osan’s black teeth, Ohaguro
Jihei’s wife Osan has blackened teeth which were a symbol of beauty and maturity in Asian culture. The purpose of teeth blackening was to preserve the health of the teeth. In Japanese culture ohaguro was seen as a symbol of marriage and wealth.
A dead couple underneath the bridge
As Jihei is walking towards the brothel the film cuts to the scene of a drowned couple underneath the bridge. Opening the film like this not only foreshadows the events, but also plays on the title of the movie.
Making love at the graveyard
The scene where Jihei and Koharu make love at the graveyard is supposed to be impactful in its irony and disturbing nature of it. The only place where they can truly be free together is the graveyard suggesting their grim fate.
