“The Grim Reaper / La commare secca” (殺し), Original Japanese Movie Poster 1988, Bernardo Bertolucci / Pier Paolo Pasolini, B2 Size (c. 51 × 73 cm) — T66

This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster for the 1988 first Japanese release of La commare secca, also known internationally as The Grim Reaper. Released in Japan as 殺し (Koroshi), this striking design combines a large photographic portrait with vivid colour accents and bold Japanese lettering.

Originally made in 1962, the film marks Bernardo Bertolucci’s feature directorial debut. Based on an original story by Pier Paolo Pasolini, with a screenplay by Bertolucci and Sergio Citti, it begins with the discovery of a murdered woman beside the River Tiber in Rome. Police interviews lead into a series of interconnected flashbacks, revealing the suspects’ movements and the lives of people on the margins of the city.

The composition is dominated by a large portrait of a dark-haired woman, reproduced in deep red and cream. Her direct gaze gives the design an arresting focal point, while patterned curtains introduce texture beside her face. Across the top, three contrasting film stills use combinations of green, yellow, purple and red, suggesting the shifting perspectives of the narrative.

The oversized blue Japanese title 「殺し」 cuts across the lower portion in expressive, brushlike lettering. Above it, La Commare Secca appears in flowing green script. White vertical credits balance the composition along the left edge, identifying the film’s creative team and Japanese distributor, Cable Hogue.

The prominent vertical tagline reads:

「ベルトルッチ幻の処女作。」
“Bertolucci’s rarely seen debut film.”

Alongside this, the poster carries an endorsement attributed to Pasolini, reinforcing the connection between the two filmmakers.

The combination of saturated colour, intimate portraiture and contrasting typography makes this an appealing example for collectors of Bernardo Bertolucci, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Italian cinema and Japanese arthouse poster design.

Condition: Very Good+ to Excellent.

Please review all photographs, including the front, reverse and detail images, as they show the exact poster for sale.

Japanese B2 format: approximately 51 × 73 cm.
Stock code: T66.

It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

Certificate of Authenticity included.

About Japanese B2 posters
Japanese B2 posters typically measure approximately 51 × 73 cm and were produced for theatrical display. Their distinctive combinations of photography, illustration, typography and promotional copy offer a fascinating record of how films were presented to Japanese audiences.