A young man, Shou, leads a life of no significance until one day he is asked by his father to clean up the dead aunt`s house. As he empties her trash-filled flat, he finds himself becoming curious about her life. Kawajiri Matsuko was a high school teacher with a beautiful voice, a once-in-demand prostitute, a mistress to a Yakuza and a murderess. The film presents her complex life through a dynamic vision that blends music, choreography, and special effects. An extravagant life of the woman, who was eschewed, structured in dazzling style, leads the audience on a delightful yet sad adventure filled with contrasting emotions. In the end, this method proves to be persuasive enough to make us sympathize with the tragic Matsuko. The film shows off the talent of the brilliant Nakashima through cinematic pleasure with proper rhythm. And Nakatani Miki`s magnificent performance is also a gem. [Memories of Matsuko] marks a significant success for the director, the actor and the production company for its spectacles of the co-existing light and shadow, splendor and simplicity. (Kwon Yong-min)