Among the directors we've been introduced to through the Collection Seijun Suzuki is probably the most surprising. He quickly became a hero, and like any hero who isn't Mr. Rogers he's gone and milkshake ducked himself..

Think of it in terms of, say, Uncle Tom's Cabin. A thing can be very progressive in its time and yet feel dated and as if it doesn't push enough. This is particularly egregious to Pat and me in Story of a Prostitute in that we view the uncommented on bit -- that "Comfort Women" were largely forced sex slaves -- as so nakedly evil that we can't understand the acceptance of it, particularly because Seijun is pushing back against mainstream Japanese cultural myths of masculinity and militarism but fails to push against the idea that these women were all willing volunteers.

We get disappointed by a hero on this week's Lost in Criterion with Story of a Prostitute, listen via iTunes or LostInCriterion.com, and while you're at it, like us on Facebook or support us on Patreon.