Taboo

The recruiting of a skilled but effeminate young warrior creates a ravenous web of unexpected desires, rumors and jealousy that eats away at an esteemed 19th century samurai militia in this psychosexual drama from Japanese director Nagisa Oshima (In the Realm of the Senses). Peopled with characters largely fascinating and enigmatic, especially the boy (Ryuhei Matsuda) and a lieutenant played by "Beat" Takeshi Kitano, Taboo creates a vivid (yet vaporous) atmosphere of both honor and artifice as the boy absentmindedly toys with the affections and fury of his admirers. Unfortunately, the overly formal presentation, overly flowery dialogue, and nebulous symbolism too often end up driving a wedge between the action and the audience, and the admirably uncommon story is somewhat undermined by points of confusion that extend all the way to the portentous ending (which may have lost something in the translation). Optional. (R. Blackwelder)