Retreat Through the Wet Wasteland (1973)

Interesting facts

Retreat Through the Wet Wasteland is a 1973 Japanese film in Nikkatsu's Roman Porno series, directed by Yukihiro Sawada and starring Yuri Yamashina and Takeo Chii.

Background

Nikkatsu, still in the early stages of the difficulties associated with the trial over Love Hunter (1972), was reluctant to release a film about police brutality and corruption. The high-profile staff was able to convince the executives to green-light the production, but made one compromise with the title. The addition of the word "Wet" made the film sound more like a typical Roman Porno sex film than one that dealt with serious social issues.

Director Yukihiro Sawada was known for his efforts in attempting to elevate Nikkatsu's Roman Porno films above their pink film origins, such as in his previous Sex Hunter: Wet Target (1972) and later Assault! (1976). He was particularly known for bringing social issues to the pink film, such as violence, racial prejudice and police corruption. Later in his career he brought the thriller genre into his Roman Pornos.

Lead actress Yuri Yamashina had been an actress in the pink film genre before the inception of Nikkatsu's Roman Porno series in 1971. Acting under the name Saeko Tsugawa, she was associated with director Kan Mukai's studio, appearing for the director in such films as Cruel Story of a Sex Film Actress (1968).

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