In the Realm of the Senses

"Directed by the legendary and transgressive Japanese filmmaker Nagisa Ōshima, 'Ai no korīda' is a film based on the life of the geisha and prostitute Sada Abe, whose fatal affair with Kichizō Ishida became infamous and caused a stir in Japan during the 1930s. The film itself was extremely controversial, largely due to its portrayal of non-simulated sex between its actors, but also for its explicit themes and imagery. However, 'Ai no korīda' is much more than claustrophobic erotic scenes in solitude, as it represents a terrible reflection of Japanese society before its fateful participation in World War II: under an imperialist mindset, two lovers take their connection to extreme limits as a defiance to a government determined to destroy everything."