Red Light

The Blues, executive produced by Martin Scorsese, consists of seven feature-length films that capture the essence of the blues while exploring how this art form so deeply influenced music and people the world over.

The latest Eureka two disc set of Kenji Mizoguchi films includes two of the last three films that the director made, and includes one of the only two films that the director shot in colour. Akasen Chitai and Yokihi show the director's continuing interest in the role of women in the changing world around them. Akasen Chitai represents somewhat of a change of style for Mizoguchi and, ironically, was his final film, whilst Yokihi was a rare journey into non-Japanese history which upholds the sumptuous settings of his other works whilst providing an opportunity for the film-maker to experiment visually courtesy of the Eastmancolor process.

In 1919, Hungarian Communists aid the Bolsheviks' defeat of Czarists, the Whites. Near the Volga, a monastery and a field hospital are held by one side then the other. Captives are executed or sent running naked into the woods. Neither side has a plan, and characters the camera picks out soon die. A White Cossack officer kills a Hungarian and is executed by his own superiors when he tries to rape a milkmaid. At the hospital, White officers order nurses into the woods, dressed in finery, to waltz. A nurse aids the Reds, then they accuse her of treason for following White orders. Red soldiers walk willingly, singing, into an overwhelming force. War seems chaotic and arbitrary.

Michael, Steven and Nick are young factory workers from Pennsylvania who enlist into the Army to fight in Vietnam. Before they go, Steven marries the pregnant Angela and their wedding-party is also the men's farewell party. After some time and many horrors the three friends fall in the hands of the Vietcong and are brought to a prison camp

The film is set in 1917, during the last months of legal prostitution in Storyville, the red-light district of New Orleans, Louisiana. Hattie, a professional at the elegant home of Madame Nell, and Hattie's 12-year-old daughter Violet are the only ones awake when photographer Ernest J. Bellocq comes by with his camera. He takes photographs of Hattie and fascinates Violet. Over a few months, Nell arranges for the auction of Violet's virginity, Hattie marries and goes to St. Louis, abandoning Violet in the brothel. Bellocq continues to spend time with Violet, entranced by her beauty, youth and photogenic face. When the brothel closes, Bellocq and Violet wed, ostensibly to protect her from the larger world. He is much older, however, and others question his motives in marrying her.

1917. Violet vit dans l'atmosphère familiale du bordel de la Nouvelle Orléans où officie sa mère Hattie. Elle se lie d'amitié avec le photographe Bellocq puis devient une prostituée très demandée, tandis que sa mère part. Punie pour avoir eu un noir comme client, elle se réfugie auprès de Bellocq, qu'elle finit par épouser.

EUROPE in the RAW is an unrestrained, voluptuous, and wanton excursion to the birthplace of sensual erotism. Much of this captivating film was shot with the camera carefully concealed in a briefcase. With the camera hidden in such a novel fashion, we were able to film many behind - the - scenes activities which, otherwise, would not have been allowed. Other photographers who have tried to film the uninhibited footage have had their cameras and film confiscated by law enforcement authorities, or have been subjected to bodily harm by members of the underworld. Even filming this sensational footage clandestinely involved great risks. Now, Russ Meyer, the creator of THE IMMORAL MR. TEAS, brings to the screen his greatest triumph …