Branded Female Convicts (1984) – Shigeru Poi.

In the wake of a prison fire, one of the prisoners on temporary release Ochiyo (Tomoko Ogawa) made use of this by revenging herself upon those who falsely accused her, thereby reclaiming the honour of her family name. W.I.P exploitation and revenge go together smoother than Vodka & Tonic, and Branded Female Convicts offers Asian genre fans something with no less of a kick! Soft core nookie, violence, nudity, government corruption, and appealing period costumes, if you've seen more than one Japanese W.I.P flick, 0ne is aware of the mostly strict adherence to systematised tropes. Not the worst, and not the best example of battling babes behind bars, it is nicely shot, competently made, and Ochiyo is hugely sympathetic protagonist. Her punishment is somewhat Draconian, to e dragged about the village before being crucified, one would have to be born with a heart of stone not to wish an alternative outcome for the lovely, absolutely blameless Ochiyo. One aspect that remains relatively consistent about Japanese exploitation, be they produced for the cinema, or small screen, the performances are always exemplary, frequently featuring memorable scores, and Shigeru Poi's thrilling Branded Female Convicts is no exception.