Review of In the Realm of the Senses (1976) by Cody U — 08 Oct 2010

This was quite an interesting film, to say the least. It was beautifully shot, with some great scenery. Considering this was made in 1976, this was an extremely shocking film for its time. Well, also considering it was made as a mainstream film and the amount of graphic sex there is in it, this is a shocking film.

And there is a debate over whether or not this is just pornography dressed up as an art-house film, but I don't think this is really a porn film. There is actual penetration, so for all intents and purposes, that is pornography, but it's not distasteful.

And I look at it as a film about freedom and passion, and the filmmakers exercised a lot of freedom in the way they chose to make it. And the explicit sex that is nearly continuous throughout the entire film is necessary to show the love and obsession the two main characters share, and to present them as the counter-parts to typical Japanese society circa 1936, which is when the film takes place.

There is a brilliant scene in which the male character is walking down the street in a black robe and he walks past a marching line of Japanese soldiers on their way to fight in WWII. This is one of the many scenes that gives this film a message, something that porn films do not have.

The two leads, Eiko Matsuda and Tatsuya Fuji are great, especially considering everything they have to do with each other. And as if all of the sex throughout the movie weren't enough, the ending scene is amazingly grotesque.

A truly gross ending to a great film.