In the Realm of the Senses (1976)

Nagisa Oshima’s In the Realm of the Senses (Ai no Corrida) is one of the most controversial films ever made, blurring the line between art-house cinema and explicit eroticism. It is based on a shocking true story from 1930s Japan and remains a film that is still discussed, studied, and debated nearly fifty years after its release. Below is a detailed breakdown of the film, its story, and its legacy.

Detailed Summary

The Setting: Japan in the 1930s

The movie is set in Tokyo in 1936, during a turbulent political period. While Japan is preparing for war and nationalism is growing, the story turns inward, focusing on a deeply personal, obsessive, and destructive relationship between two people.

The Meeting of Sada and Kichizo

Sada Abe (played by Eiko Matsuda) is a former prostitute who now works as a maid in a hotel. She meets Kichizo Ishida (Tatsuya Fuji), the hotel owner. Their initial attraction is instantaneous, and what starts as a secret affair quickly evolves into an all-consuming sexual obsession.

Escalation of Desire

The majority of the film depicts their increasingly extreme sexual relationship. They isolate themselves, spending days and nights together, ignoring the outside world. Their passion becomes more daring, with elements of erotic asphyxiation, voyeurism, and bondage introduced. The physical side of their relationship mirrors the psychological descent into obsession and detachment from reality.

The Outside World Fades

As the lovers’ world shrinks, war marches on outside. Soldiers, marches, and political unrest occasionally intrude on the background, but Sada and Kichizo pay no attention. For them, only their desire matters. This contrast—between looming national chaos and their private erotic universe—is one of Oshima’s most pointed critiques.

Movie Ending

The ending is both infamous and unforgettable. As Kichizo’s desire for riskier sexual experiences grows, he allows Sada to strangle him during intercourse. She does so, and his death becomes the ultimate act of erotic fulfillment. Afterward, she cuts off his genitals, carries them with her wrapped in cloth, and wanders through the city in a trance-like state. Eventually, she is arrested, still clutching the remains of her lover.

This ending is a direct reference to the true historical case of Sada Abe, who shocked Japan in 1936 when she killed her lover in exactly this way. The film does not shy away from showing the act in graphic detail, making it one of the most controversial sequences in cinematic history. The film closes with Sada wandering into the crowd, consumed by her obsession even as society closes in on her.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, there are no post-credits scenes. Once the shocking climax concludes, the film ends without additional footage. Oshima leaves the audience with the intensity of the final act, allowing no release or “afterthought.”

Type of Movie

In the Realm of the Senses is an erotic art-house drama. It is often labeled as an erotic psychological thriller, though its roots are in historical drama since it is based on a true story. The film is also considered part of the Japanese New Wave, challenging censorship and cinematic norms.

Cast

• Eiko Matsuda as Sada Abe
• Tatsuya Fuji as Kichizo Ishida
• Aoi Nakajima as Hotel maid
• Meika Seri as Kichi’s wife
• Taiji Tonoyama as Old beggar

Film Music and Composer

The score was minimal and carefully chosen to heighten tension without overwhelming the realism of the story. The music leans heavily on traditional Japanese sounds, emphasizing silence and ambient noise, which reflects the intimacy—and later, suffocating nature—of the lovers’ obsession. The composer was Minoru Miki, who provided a sparse, haunting score.

Filming Locations

The film was shot primarily in Japan, but because of strict censorship laws regarding sexual content, the production and post-production were partially moved to France. This international collaboration was essential in allowing the film to be released uncut abroad, while it faced heavy restrictions in Japan.

Awards and Nominations

• The film was banned or censored in many countries, which prevented it from competing widely in awards circuits.
• It did, however, gain recognition at international film festivals, where it was hailed as a bold, radical piece of cinema.
• Its most enduring recognition is its place in Sight & Sound and other critical polls, where it remains cited as one of the most daring and important films of world cinema.

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Oshima deliberately blurred the line between art and pornography, insisting that real sex on screen could be used to tell a legitimate story.
• Both lead actors, Eiko Matsuda and Tatsuya Fuji, took enormous risks by appearing in such explicit roles, which were career-defining but also stigmatizing in conservative Japan.
• The film was funded in part by French producers, which gave Oshima the freedom to bypass Japanese censorship.
• The Japanese prints of the film had blurred or cropped scenes due to obscenity laws; international versions were uncut.

Inspirations and References

• Inspired directly by the real case of Sada Abe in 1936.
• Oshima used the story as a metaphor for the suffocating nature of obsession and also as a political statement about freedom, censorship, and control in Japanese society.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

There are no widely known alternate endings. However, certain cuts of the film differ in explicitness depending on the country. Japanese theatrical versions censored genitalia and certain sex acts, while French versions remained uncut.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The film is based on real events, which have been recounted in Japanese books and articles about Sada Abe. While the movie follows the facts fairly closely, Oshima stylizes them, focusing more on the psychological and erotic dimensions than on the broader social scandal that followed her arrest.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• The lovers’ first passionate encounter in the hotel.
• The escalating intensity of their sexual experiments, culminating in public spaces.
• The shocking finale, where desire and death fuse into one.

Iconic Quotes

• Sada: “I want nothing else. Only you. If you die, I’ll die too.”
• Kichizo: “More. Tighter. Until the very end.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• Oshima subtly places political images (soldiers, marches) in the background as reminders of Japan’s looming militarism.
• The isolation of the lovers reflects Japan’s insular nationalism at the time.
• The use of silence instead of constant music underlines the suffocating intensity of their world.

Trivia

• The film was seized by Japanese authorities upon release.
• In the U.S., it was initially banned, then later released uncut as debates about obscenity laws unfolded.
• Tatsuya Fuji later said he was surprised the film achieved cult status because he thought it would “disappear quietly.”

Why Watch?

This film is not for everyone, but it is a bold piece of cinematic history. It’s important for those interested in:

• How cinema pushes boundaries of censorship.
• The blending of eroticism and art.
• Historical cases where personal desire clashed with societal norms.
  It is disturbing, shocking, and unforgettable—a film that forces viewers to confront the limits of obsession and the extremities of love and destruction.

Director’s Other Movies

• Death by Hanging (1968)
• Diary of a Shinjuku Thief (1969)
• Boy (1969)
• The Ceremony (1971)
• Empire of Passion (1978)
• Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983)

Recommended Films for Fans

• Last Tango in Paris (1972)
• Antichrist (2009)
• Nymphomaniac (2013)
• Crash (1996)
• Empire of Passion (1978)
• The Piano Teacher (2001)