Unlike it's sequel, In the Realm of Passion, which is more of a ghost story than an erotic film, In the Realm of the Senses pulls no punches in the "woa, that was kinda graphic" department. This is no porn, so don't watch this movie to see clinical shots of genitalia through the entire film with no story to get in the way. However, be advised that these shots do exist, and if you are offended by graphic sex and nudity, then you will no doubt want to stay away from this one. Either way, don't watch it with grandma.

In, I believe, around the turn of the century, give or take 50 - 100 years (I don't really know), a woman named Sada Abe was found wandering the streets with the severed penis of her lover in her hand, apparently in a state of bliss. That is the true story that this film is based on. I found that intriguing enough and was a little disappointed that the film didn't start with Ms. Sada being picked up and questioned by the police. Instead the film starts at the beginning of an ex-prostitute's love affair with her soon to be penis-less lover. I guess I would have liked a little more of the criminal intrigue element.

In the Realm of the Senses is an exploration into the obsessive sexual desires of two lovers and it's ultimate traumatic result. I suppose the same result that any true obsession brings: addiction, ruin, and death. I'm not going to try to apply this as an analogy of any culture, Japanese or otherwise, since I hate that as a justification for a film's explicit gore or sexuality. Rarely, a film may be a relevant statement on greater schemes, but usually I find this way of looking at cinema as either pompous B.S. or justifying why you get off on violence or sex. IS THE FILM ANY GOOD?

In this case I would say yes. It is erotic (graphically so), beautiful to watch (graphically so), sometimes disturbing and finally tragic (also pretty graphically so). Men will NOT enjoy the last "sexual" encounter. Hardcore feminists might. Just don't expect too much from this movie. In most cases infamy disappoints. If you buy a film because you heard that it has such and such contoversial scenes or elements, you are likely to be bored with the actual story surrounding said scenes. This is a well made film, however, and it would be a shame to dismiss it as pornography. It's hard to recommend this film. If you are looking for pornography, it won't be enough. If you are offended by explicit (and I mean explicit ) sex then this will be way too much. The point is, through all the controversy and infamy, it is a well made and entertaining movie.

I'd buy it only if I found a good price tag on it, but then buy it I would.

ADDITION: I have subsequently bought this movie (for educational purposes) from hkflix.com.

DO NOT BUY THIS FILM IF: You are offended by very graphic sexually explicit scenes; you want nothing BUT very graphic sexually explicit scenes; you have a psychotic girlfriend (well, then maybe you should watch it, just not with her); or you don't like beautiful nude women because you once were accosted by a herd of beautiful nude women waving severed penises whilst dancing in bliss.

RECOMMENDATION: Hmmm. I would definitely recommend this as a rental. Because of its graphic nature, buy it at your own risk. Its about sexual obsession, and if you are distracted from the story of sex by the images of sex, then you'll likely simply find this an erotic oddity. But maybe that's OK too.

By any standard, the direction and (believe it) the acting, is far superior to mere pornography. In The Realm Of The Senses (aka: Ai No Corrida) was shown under club-membership conditions until 1991, when the BBFC granted it a cinema certificate with one small alteration replicated on this video release. During a scene where Sada plays with two naked children, she reaches out and pulls at the little boy's penis. This scene is vital in that it is the first indication that Sada has become deranged, but it's problematic in that it falls foul of the Child Protection Act (which does not allow context as a defence). With Oshima's permission, the then BBFC Secretary James Ferman optically zoomed in on the image, so that the hand/genital contact was out of shot. But the rest of the film is intact, as it should be. Oshima's film is one of a kind.

Based on a true story, this is the story of one of Japan's most notorious scandals. An ex-prostitute enters service in a household and promptly begins an obsessive perverse affair with the master. What starts as a casual diversion escalates into a passion that holds no bounds. The intensity of the affair and the couple's mutual appetite for exploring the physical and sexual limits of their love-making completely overwhelms them and the strain of the relationship takes its toll on all concerned.

The climax of the film is legendary and disturbing and is rightly one of the most talked about scenes in cinema history. Once seen it will never be forgotten.