A Snake of June (2003)

Set amidst the ceaseless drizzle of Tokyo's rainy season, A Snake of June weaves a chilling tale of desire, blackmail, and self-discovery. Rinko Tatsumi, a selfless suicide-prevention counselor, finds herself ensnared in a web of dark voyeurism spun by a mysterious man, Iguchi - a photographer and former client, teetering on the brink of death due to stomach cancer. The story plunges into a disquieting abyss when Rinko receives an envelope, containing illicit photographs of a past modeling stint, and a cellular phone. These photos expose an intimate moment, her in a short skirt, lost in self-pleasure. The photographs, taken through her skylight, are the bait for a perverse game. Iguchi dangles the negatives, promising their safe return if Rinko follows his explicit instructions that lead her on a wild journey into the Tokyo night, pushing the boundaries of her comfort and sexuality. As the plot unwinds, it unravels Rinko's sterile life with her older husband, Shigehiko - a man whose obsession with cleanliness borders on the fanatical, rendering their marital bed cold and their sexual life non-existent. This crisis forces Rinko to confront her own mortality when she discovers she has breast cancer, a revelation met with Shigehiko's detached response. The twisted narrative takes another turn when Iguchi reaches out to Shigehiko, ensnaring him in his manipulative game. As the lines between oppressor and oppressed blur, the trio find themselves spiraling down a path of unsettling revelations and forced introspection. A Snake of June paints a haunting portrait of suppressed desires, emotional blackmail, and the search for liberation in an oppressive society, leaving audiences to ponder where this perilous triangle will lead.

A Snake of June is a drama movie featuring Asuka Kurosawa.

A Snake of June is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy and it's also available on ARROW, AsianCrush and Fandor Amazon Channel.

It is also possible to buy A Snake of June on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies and YouTube.