Doubling up on the movie posters today, we also have this great Japanese sheet for Konketsuji Rika: Hamagure komoriuta, released in English as Rica 3: Juvenile’s Lullaby. The observant may have noticed the change in spelling of Rika’s name. We have no idea why that happened, especially because the first movie Rika the Mixed-Blood Girl didn’t have a spelling change. But being precise types, we didn’t want you think we made a typo. Though that happens al the time anyway.
Directed by Kôzaburô Yoshimura, Rica 3 caps off Rika’s Amerasian trilogy by following the Japanese/anglo heroine’s exploits as she tries to save her friend from sexual predators intent on making her the lead in a porno film. These pinku plots are never simple, but that’s the main thrust here. There’s also some expounding upon racial matters. For instance, we see that, like in America, in Japan being half black biologically makes you 100% black as far as the prevailing racist culture is concerned, but that’s nothing we didn’t already know.
We were more interested in the action, but much of it is played for laughs, like when we see Rika beat the shit out of some guys with what must be the world’s sturdiest baguette. They’re in good company. Virtually every man in the movie ends up laid out like a stunned carp (see below), but they all have it coming for being so mean and rapey. Rica 3 isn’t a great pinku, but it’s worth a look for fans of the genre. The women are smart and tough, and the heroine comes out on top. Which is the whole point, as far as we’re concerned. Konketsuji Rika: Hamagure komoriuta premiered in Japan today in 1973.
