4K RESTORATION
Director: Kinuyo Tanaka
Runtime: 93 minutes
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Rating: PG13 (Some Coarse Language)

Full Synopsis

In her second and final collaboration with screenwriter Sumie Tanaka, who wrote Forever a Woman, Kinuyo Tanaka revisits the archetype of the panpan, which she first explored in her debut feature Love Letter. Released a few years after the damning Prostitution Prevention Law of 1956, Girls of Dark centres around Kuniko, a young woman living in one of Japan’s newly established correctional facilities for former sex workers. Battling prejudice and overcoming demons from the past, she strives to construct a new life for herself.

In the 1960s, Japanese cinema started to evolve with the emergence of younger new wave directors such as Nagisa Oshima and Masahiro Shinoda, who were departing from the star-centred, plot-driven melodramas of the past, and towards more socially conscious stories. Girls of Dark sees Tanaka, while still drawing upon the tradition of women’s films, adopting a grittier style of filmmaking that displays an uncompromising critique of post-war society and a bold celebration of female kinship and tenacity.

Retrospective: Kinuyo Tanaka is held in conjunction with Japanese Film Festival Singapore, and has been made possible with the generous support of the Japan Foundation.

For the full Retrospective: Kinuyo Tanaka programme, please visit here.

Oldham Theatre’s opening hours

For further assistance, please contact us at ticketing@asianfilmarchive.org 

Important Notice:

Do note that Oldham Theatre operates on a free seating arrangement. Doors will open 20 minutes before showtime so arrive early to choose a seat and avoid disrupting the screenings as AFA does not play ads and screenings will start promptly.

All patrons are encouraged to purchase your tickets online. If you choose to purchase tickets or merchandise at Oldham Theatre’s box office, cashless payment is preferred.

Measures will be taken to ensure the health and safety of all patrons at Oldham Theatre. Mask-wearing is optional as of 29 August 2022.

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T&Cs
Concession tickets apply to Students (Local & Overseas), Full-time National Servicemen (NSF), Senior Citizens (55 years and above) only.

Please check film ratings before purchase of tickets. Please note that you may be asked to present your ID at the door (this applies to concession tickets as well). Only physical photographic identification is allowed, digital copies of identification are not allowed. AFA reserves the right to turn away any members of the public without physical photographic identification.

Upon confirmation of your order for Tickets, no exchange of Tickets will be made under any circumstances and Tickets are not transferable. No refund on Tickets will be made under any circumstances except due to cancellation of the event. The resale of Tickets at any price is prohibited.