The Insect Woman, directed by Shohei Imamura, is a Japanese drama film released in 1963. The movie follows the life of its protagonist, Tome, who is born into a family of poverty in a small village in Japan. When Tome's mother dies, she is sent to work as a servant in a wealthy household. There, she is sexually assaulted by the patriarch and becomes pregnant with his child.
After giving birth, Tome returns to her village and struggles to support herself and her child. She turns to prostitution to make ends meet and eventually moves to Tokyo. In the city, Tome becomes involved in the yakuza and rises through the ranks, becoming a powerful businesswoman.
Throughout the movie, Imamura uses the metaphor of the insect to represent Tome's life. Just as the insect repeats its mistakes in an endless cycle, Tome seems unable to escape the poverty and exploitation she experiences throughout her life. Despite her attempts to change her circumstances, she finds herself stuck in the same patterns again and again.
The Insect Woman is considered a classic of Japanese cinema and is known for its frank portrayal of the realities faced by women in Japan during that time period. Imamura's use of the insect metaphor has been praised for its effectiveness in conveying the cyclical nature of Tome's life.