If Monika Treut represents the "cool queer look" of the 1990s, then Hamano Sachi from Japan looks like a hippie from the 1960s. Having made more than 300 porn films in the past 30 years, Hamano began making feature films in 1998. Last week she brought two of her features to the women make waves film festival. Like Treut, she likes to wear sunglasses all the time, even when people want to take her picture.
"Japanese movies always present old women as well-mannered and "cute Obasan." In this movie I wanted to present the human part of women aged 69-91, their desires and their sexuality," said Hamano when talking about her opening film, Lily Festival. The film is a witty and humorous story depicting eroticism in a senior citizen's apartment. When a honey-tongued geriatric Romeo moves into a nursing home with seven women, the gender roles of Snow White and the seven dwarfs are suddenly reversed.
"In my 30 years of making porn films, I've always wanted to present them from a woman's perspective," Hamano said. "Women's senses are very different than men and also women can have an open and pro-active attitude towards their desires."
For that reason, Hamano said she has been in constant conflict with her producers and co-workers. "In most Japanese porn films, especially the early ones, women have been entirely submissive. A woman could never say she wanted it, not even actively caress her lover. Women always played passive roles."
When Hamano began making her porn films presenting lively women who were enjoying themselves, she was questioned by older male co-workers. And because she had been the only woman in the porn film industry until five years ago, she was asked to change her screen credit to that of a man.
"I love making movies, which was the reason why I started with porn films," Hamano said. "In 1966, porn was younger and more flexible and women were accepted in the industry. The feature film industry back then strictly excluded women."
Beginning as an assistant director making porn films at the age of 18, Hamano took to wearing sunglasses to shield her young eyes from too much exposure. "I wear them even when I watch movies," she said.
Now, as a feature filmmaker, Hamano has been traveling with film festivals and fund-raising. Her next project will be about the lives of two left-wing lesbian couples in the 1930s.
"It will be about friendship, love, and the dense atmosphere of the time," she said.
And about her porn-making? "I will continue. I will keep making women's porn until Japanese women stop feeling ashamed of sex, and until they truly gain power over their sexuality," said Hamano as she stroked her long straight hair.
For your information: Films by Monika Treut and Hamano Sachi are being screened at Women Makes Waves Film and Video Festival until Sept. 20 at President Theater, 4F, 59 Chunghua Rd., Sec.1. For program information see http://www.wmw.com.tw
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