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Snakes and Earrings
蛇にピアス
2008 123 min Japan 18+
★6.8
Romance, Thriller, Crime
Director: Yukio Ninagawa
🎭 Based on
«Snakes and Earrings»
byHitomi Kanehara
Trailers
Description
While alone in a nightclub, straight-laced Lui meets sensitive but troubled punk kid Ama. Mesmerized by his split tongue, she becomes obsessed with body modification and soon wants the same treatment. After Ama's heavily-tattooed friend Shiba pierces her tongue, Lui finds herself inexorably drawn to both men – and to her growing list of desires, she now adds a tattoo.
Starring
Yuriko Yoshitaka
Actor
Kengo Kôra
Actor
Arata Iura
Actor
Awards
1 win
Key opinion
Snakes and Earrings is a divisive character study that relies on its cold, hypnotic atmosphere to explore themes of self-destruction and obsession. While some viewers are captivated by the raw performances and the film's gritty aesthetic, others find the protagonists shallow and the narrative nihilistic.
| Production | The film succeeds in establishing a cold, hypnotic atmosphere that effectively mirrors the protagonists' internal loneliness and pain. | |
| Score | The musical score is highly effective in enhancing the film's dark and brooding mood. | |
| Acting | The performances, particularly Arata's portrayal of the enigmatic tattoo master, are compelling and embody the characters' complex natures. | |
| Theme | The narrative's focus on extreme body modification and nihilism is perceived by some as a profound exploration of identity, while others view it as a hollow and pretentious depiction of superficial rebellion. | |
| Adaptation | Viewers are split on the quality of the adaptation, with some finding the film's character dynamics superior to the source material, while others struggle to connect with the perceived emptiness of the heroine's journey. |