In the Realm of the Senses

Starring:Tatsuya Fuji, Eiko Matsuda, Aoi Nakajima, Yasuko Matsui, Meika Seri, Kanae Kobayashi, Taiji Tonoyama, KyÃ´ji Kokonoe, Naomi Shiraishi, Shinkichi Noda, Komikichi Hori, Kikuhei Matsunoya, Akiko Koyama, Yuriko Azuma, Rei Minami, Machiko Aoki, Mariko Abe, KyÃ´ko Okada, Kiyomi Yasuda, Hiroko Fuji
Director: Nagisa Oshima
Studio: Fox Lorber
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Nagisa Oshima's sensational, 1976 film concerns a woman (Eiko Matsuda) whose obsessive sexual relationship with her husband (Tatsuya Fuji) crosses the line from passion into the territory of life and death. One of the most sexually explicit films ever to play in mainstream theaters (though it did run into legal trouble both in the U.S. and Japan), it has an air of palpable doom, suggesting that sex can be a doorway to suicide. Lest this sound like grunge-era noodling over dreams of self-destruction, be assured that the Kyoto-born Oshima (Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence) takes a somewhat formal, middle-aged perspective on the conjunction of various mysteries of existence. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

hot erotic, but ultimately sad classic tale of passion's fate when obsession takes over.......2007-06-13

Reviewers are to put it mildly, quite ambivalent about this movie! Some hate it saying it's 'nothing more than porn', others are puzzled by the seeming paradox of such extremes, of both 'love and aggression' existing in the very same tale, especially since the tale's 'hero' and 'heroine' start out, and remain throughout, till the end, a most unlikely pair to choose as one whose love, initially so playful and innocent looking, will grow into something very different. But really, the concept dramatized by this movie, that passion is a turbulent mix of 'love and aggression', is not new. And it can be found in many tales of passion throughout history, and today. These two opposite (but not necessarily opposing if blended right) drives (love/aggression), are to be found, in fact, (as more subtle less extreme forms), in all human activities that passion enters into--i.e. most activities in the 'playground' of being human, in which play park of course, love and sex play starring lead roles! This movie highlights this paradox in such a dramatic way, that we cannot avoid noticing it! However, to KNOW that this paradox exists, in passion, is quite a potential 'eye opener', and one of the basic truths of being human! And this movie did bring it home.
Also, for me, the movie was quite believable in its portrayal of the crazy slide from lust and playfulness, and thrill-seeking, at first, to obsession, then addiction. As such, the movie's plot makes total sense. It followed the classic pattern of evolution seen in many compulsions--from mild, to moderate, and finally, to extreme, of crazy and destructive activity, that is generated by the obsessive's need to CONSTANTLY UP THE ANTE to ever increasingly extreme stimuli, to maintain the same level of thrill! This pattern, in my view, if accepted by the viewer, makes this movie not at all paradoxical or unbelievable, but a very true and sad classic portrayal of the tragedy of obsession and compulsion. The movie is worth watching for this alone! Not to mention, I must say, before the climactic last 30 minutes, I found the sex portrayed as quite hot, loving, and far from cheap robotic stuff that merits the label 'porn'!

Over long Japanese porn.......2007-02-14

I really dispise any porn movie that the director's ego thinks is a "Erotic, daring, sensitive". This movie gets very tedious after the first hour, everything they had to say to each other was redundant after the 2nd screw. I guess the master of the house can boink any maid that's handy. And in Japan no one wears underwear. I wonder if she carried his wing-wang around in her purse at the end? I thought it would be a lot better I wish I didn't buy it. If anyone wants to buy it I'll give you a good deal.

THE CENSOR HAS BEEN AT WORK HERE.......2007-02-11

This version from Fox-Lorber, in Japanese with English subtitles, is really only 97 minutes long, not the 105 as claimed. Although it still is replete with graphic sexual behavior, it seems there is not quite as much as I remember from before, and yes, we are missing 8 minutes of footage. While little is done to affect plot development or to alter the overall story, somebody somewhere was busy with the scissors on this version; they will let us see this much graphic sexuality and no more. Since it still carries an NC-17 rating I don't see the point, but then the bluenoses never cease their gadfly gaddings about, snip here, snip there, pretty soon you are convinced you have seen the whole thing, not realizing that someone has gone to great lengths to censor your veiwing intake. The official running time was 105 minutes as made, the box says 104 minutes but the clock on my DVD player says 97 minutes. Why bother excising a movie already rated as NC-17 unless you are a zealot trying a sneak edit.

The only other alternative for this film is the version dubbed into English only, with no subtitle option at all.
I don't know whether that one has been edited.

You decide: two stars as entertainment or four stars as art house cinema.......2007-01-30

The sets are beautiful, the actors play well, and the story captivates the audience. But the story is bizarre and some of the scenes are revolting. So is Realm of the Senses something worth watching?

If you want to see explicit erotica as entertainment, be honest with yourself and get a Playboy or Penthouse video or whatever. "Realm" deserves an X rating but it's gruesome, not arousing, sex. That said, as art "Realm" offers a view of the stranger side of Japan and of where unbridled passion can take you. In this vein, I prefer Peter Greenaway films but why limit yourself to just one director. "Realm" isn't as good as The Cook The Thief His Wife and Her Lover, but it's still an engrossing film.

The story of the movie is fascinating in its own right. First, this is officially a French movie. In order to get around Japanese censorship, the film canisters were sent to France undeveloped and the film was released as a French production. It was initially banned in Japan, then a censored version was released with clouds over the shall we say Strategic areas of the image.

The female lead, Eiko Matsuda, disappeared from the art scene. The male lead, Tatsuya Fuji, is still active as an actor and he also took up pottery ten years ago. In fact he starred as a master potter in the 2006 Canadian-Japanese coproduction Kamataki. The director, Nagisa Oshima, still directs and is most famous overseas success was Merry Christmas Mr. Laurence.

Vincent Poirier, Tokyo

Realm of the Senses.......2007-01-11

Very good, but very depressing. Excellent production, but be careful--you must like pensive mysteries with "brutal" fantasy themes, that are just too realistic!

L'Empire des sens / Ai No Corridab (Orignal Japanesse Version With French Subtiles - NO English Options)

Average customer rating:

L'Empire des sens / Ai No Corridab (Orignal Japanesse Version With French Subtiles - NO English Options)

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000FRVO30

Product Description

Based on a true story set in pre-war Japan, a man and one of his servants begin a torrid affair. Their desire becomes a sexual obsession so strong that to intensify their ardor, they forsake all, even life itself.

Average customer rating:

hot erotic, but ultimately sad classic tale of passion's fate when obsession takes over
Over long Japanese porn
THE CENSOR HAS BEEN AT WORK HERE
You decide: two stars as entertainment or four stars as art house cinema
Realm of the Senses

In the Realm of the Senses
Starring: Tatsuya Fuji , Eiko Matsuda , Aoi Nakajima , Yasuko Matsui , and Meika Seri
Director: Nagisa Oshima
Manufacturer: Fox Lorber
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

( I ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

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ASIN: 1572528338
Release Date: 2000-04-25

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

hot erotic, but ultimately sad classic tale of passion's fate when obsession takes over.......2007-06-13

Over long Japanese porn.......2007-02-14

THE CENSOR HAS BEEN AT WORK HERE.......2007-02-11

You decide: two stars as entertainment or four stars as art house cinema.......2007-01-30

Realm of the Senses.......2007-01-11

Very good, but very depressing. Excellent production, but be careful--you must like pensive mysteries with "brutal" fantasy themes, that are just too realistic!

Average customer rating:

hot erotic, but ultimately sad classic tale of passion's fate when obsession takes over
Over long Japanese porn
THE CENSOR HAS BEEN AT WORK HERE
You decide: two stars as entertainment or four stars as art house cinema
Realm of the Senses

In the Realm of the Senses [Region 2]
Starring: Tatsuya Fuji , Eiko Matsuda , Aoi Nakajima , Yasuko Matsui , and Meika Seri
Director: Nagisa Oshima
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( I ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Caligula (Unrated Version)
9 songs - Unrated Full Uncut Version
Intimacy (Unrated, Widescreen Edition)
The Dreamers (Original Uncut NC-17 Version)
Romance

ASIN: B00005IB7T

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

hot erotic, but ultimately sad classic tale of passion's fate when obsession takes over.......2007-06-13

Over long Japanese porn.......2007-02-14

THE CENSOR HAS BEEN AT WORK HERE.......2007-02-11

You decide: two stars as entertainment or four stars as art house cinema.......2007-01-30

Realm of the Senses.......2007-01-11

Very good, but very depressing. Excellent production, but be careful--you must like pensive mysteries with "brutal" fantasy themes, that are just too realistic!

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