is a 1981 Japanese film

Cinema of Japan

The has a history that spans more than 100 years. Japan has one of the oldest and largest film industries in the world – as of 2009 the fourth largest by number of feature films produced. Movies have been produced in Japan since 1897, when the first foreign cameramen arrived...

 in Nikkatsu

Nikkatsu

is a Japanese entertainment company well known for its film and television productions. It is Japan's oldest major movie studio. The name Nikkatsu is an abbreviation of Nippon Katsudō Shashin, literally "Japan Cinematograph Company".-History:...

's Roman porno series, directed by Kichitaro Negishi

Kichitaro Negishi

is a Japanese film director. Although his films are admired by critics in Japan for their intelligence, Negishi has received little international recognition for his work. He has not been credited with a distinctive style but he has been called a subtle director who often elicits strong...

. Both this film and the earlier (1956) version by Nikkatsu, Crazed Fruit

Crazed Fruit

, also known as Juvenile Jungle, is a 1956 Japanese Sun Tribe film directed by Kō Nakahira. It is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Shintaro Ishihara, the older brother of Yujiro Ishihara.- Cast :* Masahiko Tsugawa - Haruji...

, were based on the novel by Shintarō Ishihara

Shintaro Ishihara

is a Japanese author, actor, politician and the governor of Tokyo since 1999.- Early life and artistic career :Shintarō was born in Suma-ku, Kobe. His father Kiyoshi was an employee, later a general manager, of a shipping company. Shintarō grew up in Zushi...

.

Synopsis

A working class young man, Tetsuo, who distrusts all rich people, falls in love with a girl, Chika, from an affluent family. He has a difficult time, but love survives despite the problems.

Cast

• Yūji Honma  as Tetsuo
• Yuki Ninagawa
  Yuki Ninagawa
  Ninagawa Yuki is a Japanese actress, daughter of the poet Mizuno Akiyoshi.-Feature filmography:*Shogun's Ninja *Crazy Fruit 狂った果実...
  
   as Chika
• Eiko Nagashima
  Eiko Nagashima
  is a Japanese actress. She won the award for best actress at the 5th Yokohama Film Festival and the award for best supporting actress at the 8th Hochi Film Award for Ryuji.-Selected filmography:* Crazy Fruit * Ryuji...
  
   as Harue
• Eiji Okada
  Eiji Okada
  Eiji Okada was a Japanese film actor. Okada served in the Japanese army during World War II, and was a miner and traveling salesman before becoming an actor....
  
   as Tono, Chika's step father
• Nobutaka Masutomi as Osawa, Harue's husband
• Kinuko Obata as Tetsuo's mother

Critical appraisal

The Weissers call the plot "a sadly contrived story" and award it two and a half stars out of four, but laud Yūji Honma's "intense performance" which made the film a major hit for the Nikkatsu

Nikkatsu

is a Japanese entertainment company well known for its film and television productions. It is Japan's oldest major movie studio. The name Nikkatsu is an abbreviation of Nippon Katsudō Shashin, literally "Japan Cinematograph Company".-History:...

 studio.

Awards and nominations

3rd Yokohama Film Festival

Yokohama Film Festival

The is a noticed yearly awards ceremony held in Japan. The festival was started as a small affair by fans and film critics, and first held on February 3, 1980. Ten films are chosen as the best of the year, and various awards are given to personnel...

• Won: Best Director - Kichitaro Negishi
  Kichitaro Negishi
  is a Japanese film director. Although his films are admired by critics in Japan for their intelligence, Negishi has received little international recognition for his work. He has not been credited with a distinctive style but he has been called a subtle director who often elicits strong...