In the Realm of the Senses

Banned in the United States upon its initial release 14 years ago-and subsequently available only in limited release--Nagisa Oshima's controversial interpretation of an event in 1936 Japan, when a geisha was found wandering the streets insane after castrating her lover, is a graphically sexual exploration of the theme of obsessive love taken to its outer limits. Yet for all of its explicit sexual content, the story is not played out in the bodies of Sada (Tatsuya Fuji) and Kichizo (Eiko Matsuda), but on their faces: Sada, becoming a shivering portrait of insane obsession, and Kichizo, the easygoing master, gradually succumbing without a struggle to his fate. While the film often raises more questions than it answers (I'm still not convinced that character--even with superb acting--can be delineated almost exclusively through sexual activity), it keeps us fascinated by holding the threat of destruction over even the most intimate scenes. In the Realm of the Senses will shock just about everyone. But viewers who can look beyond the explicit sex displayed throughout will also find themselves disturbed on an intellectual level. This video will spark tremendous controversy. With that in mind, it is recommended. (R. Pitman) [Blu-ray Review—Apr. 14, 2009—Criterion, 102 min., in Japanese w/English subtitles, not rated, $39.95—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1976's In the Realm of the Senses features a great transfer with mono sound. Blu-ray extras include audio commentary with film critic Tony Rayns, the 2003 retrospective program 'Recalling the Film' (39 min.), a 2008 interview with star Tatsuya Fuji (17 min.), an interview from 1976 with director Nagisa Oshima and costars Fuji and Eiko Matsuda (6 min.), six minutes of deleted footage, a booklet featuring an essay by Japanese film scholar Donald Richie and a reprinted interview with Oshima, and trailers. Bottom line: an excellent Blu-ray debut of a controversial film that—due to sexually explicit scenes—is still targeted more toward academic and highly adventurous public library collections.]