Reviews (53)

ASTOUNDING EROTICA.....
This is an amazing film to watch. Not only is it beautifully filmed but the atmosphere is quite vivid in its' depiction of a Japanese servant girl who becomes mistress of the master of the house and sexually obsessed with their relationship. She leads him deeper into the sexual realm until it becomes the focus of both their lives. Their relationship becomes so intense that it can only lead to destruction. Film is extremely sexually graphic and to be honest, I wasn't even aware that I was watching "pornography" because the acting and story were so mesmerizing. By then, I didn't care because it wasn't offensive---just honest. The two leads are wonderful actors and they made me forget I was watching a supposedly one-time controversial film. The film is supposedly based on a true incident. The ending is shocking and depressing but that's allegedly what happened. I consider this film a classic and a must see for foreign film buffs. It's one of the most beautiful erotic love stories ever made and one of the most disturbing.

An actors film, based on a true story.
Based on a true story, Nagisa Oshima's 1976 film about possession, sexual obsession and love, is still fresh in its portrayal of a woman named Matsuda who struggles to posses her husband Fuji, wholly and completely.
In what must be one of the most shocking movies to come out of Japan in decades,
Nagisa's skillful use of location builds a claustrophobic atmosphere of intimacy, with very little light, cramped space and no fresh air (minor character comments about the smell that builds in the room the couple are in). Though at times seemingly pretentious, my feeling is that this may be due to the translation.
From beginning to end the controversial and explicit nature of the film will either turn you on, or off or leave you in jaw-dropping awe. Its still amazing what the two main actors do for this film, and the levels they go to, to bring these two characters to life. Still fresh and worth a good unbiased viewing every other year.

Serious Minded Erotica......
Nagisa Oshima has achieved what few other directors have managed in dealing with the very touchy subject of sex, in this instance, with sexual obsession. If you plan to watch this movie for a cheap sexual thrill, you will be most disappointed. Oshima has drawn from a real incident reported in a 1936 Japanese newspaper. The film centers around the love between two people expressed physically, graphically, into realms of the senses where few dare to tread. And with good reason. This is a very intense film as it progresses from the attraction of two people through increasing experimentation in an effort not only to express their passion but to try to find the outer most limits of passion itself. Oshima must have had something metaphorical in mind but the journey as chronicled in the film also has retained the feel of the specifics. It's quirkey and eccentric. The backdrop of the story is as interesting as the story itself. It is an amazing spectacle to observe, giving the viewer a perspective on Japanese life not usually rendered but often alluded to in some historical accounts. One wonders what this experience must have been like for the actors. Oshima has managed what I have always believed should be done in order to treat the subject of sex fully and without shrinking from its' less savory aspects. This is serious minded erotica and quite unlike anything else on screen. The only other film I can recall that compares at all is "Taxi Zum Klo" which was autobiographical and starred a number of actual people playing themselves.Obviously a different catagory in that regard from what is going on here, but both films draw much of their power from explicitly sexual scenes without compromising the integrity of the story being told. This is a film experience that should not be missed.

Interesting movie...
I have to say that this movie is most certainly not one for everyone. That's quite obvious from it's NC-17 rating, and the fact that it was banned for quite some time.

But aside from that.... It's an interesting movie about obsession and sex. The characters don't really get too deep, and you don't necessarily feel much sympathy for them, but that's part of the point of the film. You're supposed to feel the obsession, and the fact that the two lovers really only ever have sex on their minds, that it's taken over their lives.

It's graphic, violent even, with tons of sex... But if you know what you're getting into and can look beyond just the simple act of sex, you might find it a worthwhile movie.

Not worth the time or money
After reading some of the other reviews I was expecting a film that would leave me thinking about something of significance in life, even if was an extreme reaction to sexual obsession. I also, often forlornly, hope for a cathartic experience whenever I watch drama.

Unfortunately, this film provided neither. I was left thinking that there was something left on the cutting room floor that would explain the actions of the main characters. There was little in the film that would help me understand how the two 'lovers' could end up in their final situation. It was northing more than a voyeuristic following of a couples' series of sexual experiences that were neither erotic nor enlightening of motivations.

Then there were those unexplained forays by the female lead that had nothing to do with the main theme of the movie. The only reason for them seemed to be "comic relief" to the sex. The problem is that they were not funny and did not inform the audience about the main character.

Over all, the only reason to watch this film would be to see what really bad movies are like. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Also a big Takeshi fan, but...
...I wish I had as many positive things to say about the film. I really wanted to like it. I'd heard nothing but good things about director Oshima and his films, especially In the Realm of the Senses. I was also drawn to this as a Takeshi Kitano fan. In the end, however, I couldn't get past the poor acting of the Kano and Tashiro characters. Fortunately, the film has a few talented actors and comedians that make up for it. There are also a few entertaining moments like when Takeshi tries to encourage Kano to switch to the straight path. Also, the swordplay throughout the film is very well done. Recommended with some reservations.

Another master piece of Oshima trivializing death and sex
Gohatto is the law, or the code. In this magnificent piece from the master of cinema Oshima Nagisa, Gohatto means something like a marshal law. With or without knowledge of the Shinsengumi, the movie offers plenty to viewers who like plots based upon samurai stories. However, instead of the fighting scenes on the battle fields like most of the stereotypical samurai movies, this one is ever so contriving about the human within the samurai with their physical and spiritual projections towards life, death and sex. Kano was portrayed as an utterly handsome youth recruited as a new member of the militia, who was inevitably attracted by a number of other militia members. Whirled within all these conflicting feelings among the wooers, Kano appeared to be composed and cold, with a sole goal towards the "right to kill". Tashiro, the rumored only lover of Kano, was suspected of killing another samurai, Yuzawa, who courted Kano as well and assaulted sergeant Yamazaki. Commando Kondo ordered him to be executed by the hands of Kano with captain Hijikata and lieutenant Soji watching afar. The movie ends with a surreal setting of the wilderness, with drizzling rains and smoky air where Soji and Hijikata exchanged their premise about love among men. Kano was finally able to execute Tashiro and retreated, likely with Soji. With his narration, Hijikata objected the evil behind Kano's beauty which was not only to woo the men in the militia, but also to lead the wish to violate the samurai codes. Stymied a beautifully blossomed cheery tree in one swift swing of his sword, Hijikata's mind was made to crush the beauty so as to preserve the sacred code of samurai.

A natural or unnatural yearning?
The year 1865 was a time of transition for Japan. The Tokugawa Shogunate would collapse in two years time and the Meiji Restoration, where the emperor would be restored to his full glory was a year after that. Yet political struggles and fighting between those loyal to the shogun and those loyal to the emperor marked that interim period.

The black-robed Shinsengumi are a pro-shogunate, pro-isolationist police force, a kind of elite squad fighting against pro-imperialist forces in Kyoto. They are led by Commander Kondo Isami and Captain Hijikata Toshizo.

The story revolves around Sozaburo Kano, one of two new recruits whose fighting skills impress the two leaders. Kano seems very able even in his first assignment, the execution of someone who broke the Shinsengumi code of borrowing money, dispatching the offender in the traditional way. Yet his effeminate looks and his hair, still in a long pony-tail as opposed to the short-cut adult style, arouse desires in certain officers in the police force, such as his fellow recruit Hyozo Tashiro and threatens the stability of the Shinsengumi. While Kano denies that he is someone's lover, he seems to enjoy the attention he gets from the others. Hijikata seems to think Kano and Toshiro were lovers. He has a dojo bout against Kano, who stands up well, and against Tashiro, who is "one notch lower than Kano." Yet when Kano and Tashiro fight, the former does not fight as well. This inconsistency leads the captain to that conclusion in answer to rumours asking who Kano has taken up with.

One repeated line has the motif of "Does he lean that way" or "I didn't know he leant that way" in regards to officers suspected of desiring Kano. There was indeed a homosexual subculture flourishing in Kyoto during the Tokugawa period and it wasn't forbidden. In the Shinsengumi, though, it's akin to love of youthful male beauty in Roman times.

One thing that might confuse people is the repeated mention of the Ikedaya Jiken (Incident). That was a fight that took place at the Ikedaya, an inn in Kyoto, in July 1864. Commander Kondo and some men attacked and killed eight anti-shogunate activists, arresting twenty. The two samurai who taunt Kano while he is having a bout with Commander Inoue were suspected of being anti-shogunate activists itching for revenge. And Satsuma and Aizu refers to domains held under sway of more moderate anti-shogunate forces who sought reconciliation with the shogunate.

Beat Takeshi (Takeshi Kitano under his acting name) is his usual understated but occasionally potent self, and he does well as Hijikata, even if real Hijikata died in his mid-thirties. His observation that jealousy among men is a dangerous thing underscores what happens when Kano comes into their midst. Historical accuracy is also questionable in the characterization of Commander Kondo, who like Hijikata was in his thirties when he was later captured and executed in 1868 by imperial forces.

The period detail is well captured, down to the dress and even the palanquins, as is the militaristic dojo atmosphere of the Shinsengumi. An interesting study of the attractions to youthful beauty and the jealousies it can lead to.

Shocking Swordplay
Feudal Japan--Leaders of the Shinsengumi militia, an indpendent "bad cop" faction on the government's side, watch as their two newest recruits face off in a Kendo match--a wooden sword battle during a time when swordmasters received the highest regard, the samurai period. Bearded Tashiro faces off against Sozaburo Kano, who everyone can see is easily the better swordsman. But to the surprise of many, except a few insightful higher-ups, Kano loses. Beat Takeshi's Hijikata character (one of many real Japanese personalities--the Shinsengumi stories alone could entertain you for hours) and Isami Kondo immediately understand, what is going on. The viewer doesn't, but soon will. A thoughtful, judgemental look at Sozaburo, with his boyish face and demeanor, long, smooth hair, and feminine almond-shaped eyes--got it yet?--reveals all. He lost because he may be "involved" with Tashiro, who may not be the only one with "leanings" toward Sozaburo.

It's an interesting revelation to those of us only familiar with the tough samurais of Kurosawa films or the Zatoichi blind swordsman-type TV series; that these men of the sword were also men of a different type of sword. The practice isn't uncommon in history. Gladiators (yes, those during Russell Crowe's Maximus character's time) were also prone to have homosexual leanings, as did many senators. But director Nagisa Oshima does a masterful job of the consequences of a workplace relationship in the context of samurai Japan, and a homosexual relationship at that.

Not to say that the practice is widely accepted. Hijikata even orders a sergeant to take Sozaburo to a brothel to see if he can be turned around; Sozaburo misinterprets the sergeant's friendliness. Internal strife develops as other samurais join the chase for Sozaburo; rumor gives birth to tension that ends in murders, a difficult thing to have in an organization involved in a war. This is particularly of concern to Hijikata, who serves as the narrative voice in many parts of the movie, although Sozaburo remains the protagonist.

Oshima has a flair for creating then sustaining moods, be it soft, dark and suspenseful, or symbolically poignant. The swordfights are excellent, as they should be, being that this is a samurai film. Blood and gore levels are kept a reasonably tame level for this sort of film. This film would be best viewed with some sort of knowledge of the time period; perhaps get some simple reading done, or even watch a few episodes of the Rurouni Kenshin anime series, which deals heavily with the Shinsengumi, Ishin Shishi and the Meiji restoration of this time (search for "Samurai X" then watch the Trust and Betrayal movies).

This is a four-star film that gets three for revealing an aspect of the samurai that many hardcore fans may not be comfortable with. It may taint your ideal of the samurai, but Oshima allows us to accept this slowly, through a beautifully--both in image and in flow--worked film. Highly recommended for viewing, and possibly recommended for your own library.

Taboo is gratifying & pleasing
Have always like Japanese films, not all of course, but quite a few. In addition the culture, history & society of that land is of endless fascination. Must admit also to a liking for the traditional costumes (would be good fun to be a samurai warrior for a short time, but no head cutting please) & of course many of the men that well fill such costumes. To bring an end to the digression, will now talk about the film Taboo. It is a beautiful film. Magnificent settings, good dialogue, interesting story, well told. There are many scenes that will remember for a long time, one is when the older samurai takes our hero to the parlor to be introduced to the pleasures of the feminine sex. Kano takes the hand of the older samurai in such a sweet way, particularly considering how well that those same hands so easily cut off heads. Would I recommend Taboo, you bet you little bippy I would, don't miss it!!! ... Read more

Reviews (53)

ASTOUNDING EROTICA.....
This is an amazing film to watch. Not only is it beautifully filmed but the atmosphere is quite vivid in its' depiction of a Japanese servant girl who becomes mistress of the master of the house and sexually obsessed with their relationship. She leads him deeper into the sexual realm until it becomes the focus of both their lives. Their relationship becomes so intense that it can only lead to destruction. Film is extremely sexually graphic and to be honest, I wasn't even aware that I was watching "pornography" because the acting and story were so mesmerizing. By then, I didn't care because it wasn't offensive---just honest. The two leads are wonderful actors and they made me forget I was watching a supposedly one-time controversial film. The film is supposedly based on a true incident. The ending is shocking and depressing but that's allegedly what happened. I consider this film a classic and a must see for foreign film buffs. It's one of the most beautiful erotic love stories ever made and one of the most disturbing.

An actors film, based on a true story.
Based on a true story, Nagisa Oshima's 1976 film about possession, sexual obsession and love, is still fresh in its portrayal of a woman named Matsuda who struggles to posses her husband Fuji, wholly and completely.
In what must be one of the most shocking movies to come out of Japan in decades,
Nagisa's skillful use of location builds a claustrophobic atmosphere of intimacy, with very little light, cramped space and no fresh air (minor character comments about the smell that builds in the room the couple are in). Though at times seemingly pretentious, my feeling is that this may be due to the translation.
From beginning to end the controversial and explicit nature of the film will either turn you on, or off or leave you in jaw-dropping awe. Its still amazing what the two main actors do for this film, and the levels they go to, to bring these two characters to life. Still fresh and worth a good unbiased viewing every other year.

Serious Minded Erotica......
Nagisa Oshima has achieved what few other directors have managed in dealing with the very touchy subject of sex, in this instance, with sexual obsession. If you plan to watch this movie for a cheap sexual thrill, you will be most disappointed. Oshima has drawn from a real incident reported in a 1936 Japanese newspaper. The film centers around the love between two people expressed physically, graphically, into realms of the senses where few dare to tread. And with good reason. This is a very intense film as it progresses from the attraction of two people through increasing experimentation in an effort not only to express their passion but to try to find the outer most limits of passion itself. Oshima must have had something metaphorical in mind but the journey as chronicled in the film also has retained the feel of the specifics. It's quirkey and eccentric. The backdrop of the story is as interesting as the story itself. It is an amazing spectacle to observe, giving the viewer a perspective on Japanese life not usually rendered but often alluded to in some historical accounts. One wonders what this experience must have been like for the actors. Oshima has managed what I have always believed should be done in order to treat the subject of sex fully and without shrinking from its' less savory aspects. This is serious minded erotica and quite unlike anything else on screen. The only other film I can recall that compares at all is "Taxi Zum Klo" which was autobiographical and starred a number of actual people playing themselves.Obviously a different catagory in that regard from what is going on here, but both films draw much of their power from explicitly sexual scenes without compromising the integrity of the story being told. This is a film experience that should not be missed.

Interesting movie...
I have to say that this movie is most certainly not one for everyone. That's quite obvious from it's NC-17 rating, and the fact that it was banned for quite some time.

But aside from that.... It's an interesting movie about obsession and sex. The characters don't really get too deep, and you don't necessarily feel much sympathy for them, but that's part of the point of the film. You're supposed to feel the obsession, and the fact that the two lovers really only ever have sex on their minds, that it's taken over their lives.

It's graphic, violent even, with tons of sex... But if you know what you're getting into and can look beyond just the simple act of sex, you might find it a worthwhile movie.

Not worth the time or money
After reading some of the other reviews I was expecting a film that would leave me thinking about something of significance in life, even if was an extreme reaction to sexual obsession. I also, often forlornly, hope for a cathartic experience whenever I watch drama.

Unfortunately, this film provided neither. I was left thinking that there was something left on the cutting room floor that would explain the actions of the main characters. There was little in the film that would help me understand how the two 'lovers' could end up in their final situation. It was northing more than a voyeuristic following of a couples' series of sexual experiences that were neither erotic nor enlightening of motivations.

Then there were those unexplained forays by the female lead that had nothing to do with the main theme of the movie. The only reason for them seemed to be "comic relief" to the sex. The problem is that they were not funny and did not inform the audience about the main character.

Over all, the only reason to watch this film would be to see what really bad movies are like. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Director Nagisha Oshima's follow-up to his controversial film Inthe Realm of the Senses continues to explore the link between sexualobsession and madness. In a small Japanese village, a young layabout namedToyoji seduces a middle-aged married woman named Seki. After they develop ahighly charged and passionate affair, he convinces her to help him murder herhusband, a rickshaw driver named Gisaburo, but not everything goes asplanned. Despite their successful murder and cover-up, the ghost of Gisaburoreturns not only to torment Seki but to reach out to friends and familythrough their dreams. Despite its slow pace and some melodrama, In theRealm of Passion maintains its mystique through Oshima's artful directionand Yoshio Miyajima's dreamlike cinematography. They set up scene after moodyscene in which the couple struggles with guilt, fear, paranoia, and theknowledge that, because of their crime, they may never be able to truly betogether. --Bryan Reesman ... Read more

Reviews (5)

no eroticism but dark and creepy film work.
Nagisa Oshima's follow up to his hit IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES is some wath of a disappointment, but is good too, making it so so film (a lot of them). But I do not know why TLA VIDEO AND DVD GUIDE calls it "erotic ghost story of unremitting passion". 1 could be that there was some sex scenes cut from the film (the video cover says it to be 180 mins but TLA says 110 mins), but as IMDB.com recalls that there are no missing scenes reported. Or 2 can be that film reviewers these days have forgotten wath real eroticism is, because there is nothing sexy at all in this film, and the only sex scenes in the film are too dark to see and not that nice to look at. Any way the story line is that a man and the woman he has had a affair with kill her husband to be together, but with a horror twist put into it as the man's ghost comes back to haunt them. Dark and creepy themed film.

1978. Fox. 108 MINS.

Rated R for General Tone and Some Sexuality.

One (...) of a movie where sex and art converge in good taste
we are used to believe that sex and art in movies are hard to combine. A small mistake, a single forced note and the movie will degenerate in a porno movie or just a kitch. Ngisa Oshima has passed this mountain high obstacle at stratosferic altitude.
Lanscapes and interiors interact to call for an atmopsphere of darkness, surreal, sexual passion and murderous instinct. Finaly seeing genitalia in this movie does not appear to be just another porno or gratuitous visual "sensation". The lanscape pictures are also spectacular. "Good" is too little for this movie to say. ATTENTION: MANY CUT VERSIONS IN RENTAL STORES OUT THERE. GET YOUR UNRATED COPY FROM SOMEWHERE OR ELESE YOU DEAL WITH THE "RELIGIOUS SCHOOL" VERSION.

DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME
Completely unwatchable drivel. In the Realm of Senses pushed the envelope with its sexual themes and graphic depictions of sexual acts. In the Realm of Passion seems to want to capitalize on that, but it fails miserably. No real plot (some sort of insanity and a ghost story of some kind), sex, and nothing interesting or engaging at all here. Do not bother with this.

Pretty Good
In the Realm of Passion is the companion piece to Nagisa Oshima's ... In the Realm of the Senses. The film is a ghost story, dealing with guilt and revenge. Several good scenes. PLEASE SEE MY OTHER REVIEWS.

It saddened me.
This film contains so much violence, paranoia, and madness. The story is kinda slow, but the ending is quite heart-shaking and depressing. The cinematography is almost like film noir. ... Read more

Description

The story of an ex-prostitute who becomes involved in an obsessive love affair with the master of the household where she is employed as a servant.What starts as a casual diversion escalates into a passion that holds no bounds. Subtitled version with optional subtitle control ... Read more

Reviews (53)

ASTOUNDING EROTICA.....
This is an amazing film to watch. Not only is it beautifully filmed but the atmosphere is quite vivid in its' depiction of a Japanese servant girl who becomes mistress of the master of the house and sexually obsessed with their relationship. She leads him deeper into the sexual realm until it becomes the focus of both their lives. Their relationship becomes so intense that it can only lead to destruction. Film is extremely sexually graphic and to be honest, I wasn't even aware that I was watching "pornography" because the acting and story were so mesmerizing. By then, I didn't care because it wasn't offensive---just honest. The two leads are wonderful actors and they made me forget I was watching a supposedly one-time controversial film. The film is supposedly based on a true incident. The ending is shocking and depressing but that's allegedly what happened. I consider this film a classic and a must see for foreign film buffs. It's one of the most beautiful erotic love stories ever made and one of the most disturbing.

An actors film, based on a true story.
Based on a true story, Nagisa Oshima's 1976 film about possession, sexual obsession and love, is still fresh in its portrayal of a woman named Matsuda who struggles to posses her husband Fuji, wholly and completely.
In what must be one of the most shocking movies to come out of Japan in decades,
Nagisa's skillful use of location builds a claustrophobic atmosphere of intimacy, with very little light, cramped space and no fresh air (minor character comments about the smell that builds in the room the couple are in). Though at times seemingly pretentious, my feeling is that this may be due to the translation.
From beginning to end the controversial and explicit nature of the film will either turn you on, or off or leave you in jaw-dropping awe. Its still amazing what the two main actors do for this film, and the levels they go to, to bring these two characters to life. Still fresh and worth a good unbiased viewing every other year.

Serious Minded Erotica......
Nagisa Oshima has achieved what few other directors have managed in dealing with the very touchy subject of sex, in this instance, with sexual obsession. If you plan to watch this movie for a cheap sexual thrill, you will be most disappointed. Oshima has drawn from a real incident reported in a 1936 Japanese newspaper. The film centers around the love between two people expressed physically, graphically, into realms of the senses where few dare to tread. And with good reason. This is a very intense film as it progresses from the attraction of two people through increasing experimentation in an effort not only to express their passion but to try to find the outer most limits of passion itself. Oshima must have had something metaphorical in mind but the journey as chronicled in the film also has retained the feel of the specifics. It's quirkey and eccentric. The backdrop of the story is as interesting as the story itself. It is an amazing spectacle to observe, giving the viewer a perspective on Japanese life not usually rendered but often alluded to in some historical accounts. One wonders what this experience must have been like for the actors. Oshima has managed what I have always believed should be done in order to treat the subject of sex fully and without shrinking from its' less savory aspects. This is serious minded erotica and quite unlike anything else on screen. The only other film I can recall that compares at all is "Taxi Zum Klo" which was autobiographical and starred a number of actual people playing themselves.Obviously a different catagory in that regard from what is going on here, but both films draw much of their power from explicitly sexual scenes without compromising the integrity of the story being told. This is a film experience that should not be missed.

Interesting movie...
I have to say that this movie is most certainly not one for everyone. That's quite obvious from it's NC-17 rating, and the fact that it was banned for quite some time.

But aside from that.... It's an interesting movie about obsession and sex. The characters don't really get too deep, and you don't necessarily feel much sympathy for them, but that's part of the point of the film. You're supposed to feel the obsession, and the fact that the two lovers really only ever have sex on their minds, that it's taken over their lives.

It's graphic, violent even, with tons of sex... But if you know what you're getting into and can look beyond just the simple act of sex, you might find it a worthwhile movie.

Not worth the time or money
After reading some of the other reviews I was expecting a film that would leave me thinking about something of significance in life, even if was an extreme reaction to sexual obsession. I also, often forlornly, hope for a cathartic experience whenever I watch drama.

Unfortunately, this film provided neither. I was left thinking that there was something left on the cutting room floor that would explain the actions of the main characters. There was little in the film that would help me understand how the two 'lovers' could end up in their final situation. It was northing more than a voyeuristic following of a couples' series of sexual experiences that were neither erotic nor enlightening of motivations.

Then there were those unexplained forays by the female lead that had nothing to do with the main theme of the movie. The only reason for them seemed to be "comic relief" to the sex. The problem is that they were not funny and did not inform the audience about the main character.

Over all, the only reason to watch this film would be to see what really bad movies are like. ... Read more