Banka

A tragic love triangle, rugged landscapes, swooning music dominated by strings – and yet BANKA is no classic melodrama; the relationships are too opaque and the characters too contradictory for that. Foremost among them is the young, independent Reiko (Yoshiko Kuga), who grew up without a mother and does everything she can to either irritate or fascinate those around her with her blunt, boyish manner. This includes the architect Katsuragi (Masayuki Mori), with whom she begins an affair. Reiko meets Katsuragi’s wife Akiko (Mieko Takamine) at the same time, to whom she also feels drawn. Akiko is involved with a young student in turn. As a confession by Reiko threatens to tear these unstable constellations asunder to life-threatening effect, the ambiguous relationship between the two women that comes to the fore is particularly intriguing. (mg)