A Snake of June (2002)

aka Rokugatsu no Hebi
dir Tsukamoto Shinya

This story concerns beautiful, repressed, married woman Tatsumi Rinko (Kurosawa Asuka). Spied upon by freaky Iguchi (Tsukamoto Shinya) who takes candid pictures in states of undress or masturbation. Unfulfilled by her husband Shigehiko (Kohtari Yuji) who falls asleep on the recliner seat each night, and afraid the photos will be revealed, she succumbs to the blackmailer's demands, a succession of sexualized tasks to be carried out in public with Iguchi at the helm communicating wirelessly. Rinko's social limits are pushed, particularly when forced to wear a dangerously short skirt at the mall with no panties on. Later, when coerced to shop for phallic veggies, she is wearing a remote control vibrator Iguchi activates at will. This treatment unexpectedly brings up her long held-back desires which come rushing to the fore unfettered.

Tsukamoto's grainy, blueish black and white, noir-feeling piece is quite reminiscent of Tetsuo (1989), not just in look but also in exploring the alienation of the individual within the urban setting, whether from others and their attending social conformity or caused by omnipresent technology and resulting dehumanizing modern lifestyle. Whereas in Testuo,Tsukamoto intrinsically deals humanity's fears towards technology with the literal marriage of flesh and tech, A Snake in June's focus has much more to do with individual personal sexuality and how it relates to that of others.

Further adding to the Tetsuo feel is the scene when Iguchi man-handles the Shigehiko with a suddenly-sprouted, metal, penis-snake that holds Shigehiko down while, clearly deranged, he kicks and beats him over Rinko's choice not to get a mastectomy.

For all its weirdness there is a triumphant ending. Ryuka finally gets laid and we hilariously culminate with just that, a culmination.

Check out this interview with Tsukamoto Shinya from Midnight Eye.

A Snake of June trailer: