About

The ties of love cut deep, and obsession, deeper, in cinematic iconoclast Nagisa Ōshima’s notorious psychosexual drama In the Realm of the Senses.

Set in 1936, the film follows the true story of Sada Abe (Eiko Matsuda), a young, working-class housemaid and former sex worker who is seduced by her wealthy employer’s husband, Kichizō Ishida (Tatsuya Fuji). As the pair’s amorous bond deepens to claustrophobic monomania, so does the boldness and transgression of their sexual rites – including increasingly perilous forays into asphyxiation. Steeped beneath the rising tide of Japanese imperialism, the pair’s all-consuming carnal passion hastens to eclipse all outward worldly concerns: money, status, respectability, and even life itself.

Mired in controversy upon its riotous 1976 premiere – and not released uncensored in Australia for decades – Ōshima’s incendiary erotic masterpiece has lost none of its transgressive edge. Anchored by lush cinematography, exquisite mise-en-scène, and raw performances by its courageous cast, the film’s acerbic study of the power dynamics of sex, class, and politics remain as prescient as ever.

Please note: this film contains scenes of impactful sexual activity and scenes of sexual assault.

R18+ | High level sex scenes, Medium level violence, Adult themes