In 1985, director Shinji Somai (“Typhoon Club) would make his only entry within Nikkatsu's Roman porno line titled “Love Hotel”. While there are distinct dips in quality in the studio's series, Somai's contribution may be considered one of the best, touching upon a wide array of topics such as toxic relationships and suicide. Japanese critics also thought highly of the movie as it won five awards at the 7th Yokohama Film Festival and also an in-house award at Nikkatsu for Best Film of the Year.
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The story begins with Tetsuro (Minori Terada) whose life has gone downhill due to his huge debts and loaning money from the yakuza. After his office had to be closed down he feels he has hit rock bottom and decides to do something crazy. He checks into a love hotel and books a girl (Noriko Hayami) for the night, who he handcuffs and violates on the bed. However, he rethinks his decision to commit suicide afterwards and just leaves.
Two years later, Tetsuro has become a taxi driver and has regained control over his life. While on duty, he runs into the girl again. He follows her and wants to get in touch with her. As he finally comes up with the courage to approach her and also tells her about their first encounter, she becomes scared and leaves. In the following days, Nami, as is the girl's name, thinks a lot about their run-in, especially after the affair with her boss comes to a rough end.
Essentially “Love Hotel” unfolds much like an erotic drama. As you might have guessed from the title, the love hotel itself, a significant location where the fates of the two main characters meet, becomes more of a symbol of their unity as well as their downfall, since both of them have reached a low-point within their lives. While the outside sees them trying to survive, paying their debts and finding happiness, the love hotel is a place which is not so much about dreams, but more about their feelings of sorrow and desperation being expressed. As with many of his other features, Somai proves his talent for visual storytelling, highlighting the importance of certain places within the character's development and their emotional state.
Additionally, it is interesting how Somai portrays the sex scenes, or sexuality in general. Especially the loves scenes in the aforementioned hotel seem to suggest how it is not so much about sex, and more about an expression of the innermost feelings of the characters. Both Minori Terada and Noriko Hayami give great performances of two people whose fates have brought them together, an encounter which proves to be decisive for the course of their lives.
“Love Hotel” is an erotic drama dealing with themes such as suicide and depression, and how one encounter can set the course to approach these issues. Shinji Somai directs one of the best entries within the Roman porno series, which fits in nicely with the rest of his impressive filmography.
