A Man Vanishes (1967)

Tadashi Oshima, a 32-year-old salesman hailing from Naoetsu in Niigata Prefecture, has mysteriously gone missing. In pursuit of answers, his fiancée, Yoshie Hayakawa, joins forces with Imamura and his film crew, which features the interviewer Shigeru Tsuyuguchi. Together, they embark on a journey to interview relatives and colleagues to piece together Oshima’s last known whereabouts.

As they delve deeper into their investigation, it becomes apparent that the individuals involved are far from who they initially portray themselves to be. Oshima, often characterized as a meek and submissive person, is found to have embezzled funds from his workplace. The plot thickens further when it is revealed that he was romantically involved with another woman named Kimiko and felt hesitant to marry Yoshie due to the unconventional relationship of her older sister, Sayo, who has been living with another man. Sayo has also endured violent outbursts from the formidable Yoshie throughout her childhood, complicating familial bonds and trust.

As the narrative unfolds, tensions rise when Yoshie, Sayo, Tsuyuguchi, and Imamura gather at a restaurant with a fishmonger who claims to have spotted Sayo and Oshima together on multiple occasions, a statement that Sayo refutes. The twist in the tale is revealed as the setting transforms into a film studio, with Imamura making a bold statement, asserting that the narrative and its characters are all fictional. The climactic final scene depicts the film crew reenacting a fateful meeting between Sayo and Oshima, leading to a heated confrontation where Yoshie, Sayo, and the fishmonger hurl accusations at each other, each suggesting that the other is fabricating their stories.

Imamura concludes the filming with a poignant proclamation: > “The film is finished, but reality is not.” Interspersed throughout the film are poignant moments with Oshima’s relatives and Yoshie consulting various shamanic mediums, one of whom shockingly suggests that Sayo may have killed Oshima out of jealousy, leaving the audience to ponder the complex web of relationships and the myriad of truths that lie within.

Last Updated: November 16, 2024 at 18:40