This extraordinary tale of sexual obsession, based on true events, has been banned in director Nagisa Ôshima’s home country of Japan for decades due to its extremely explicit scenes of lovemaking and violence. Note: persons under the age of 18 will not be admitted.

About this series:

Nagisa Ôshima (1932-2013) brought themes of political and sexual radicalism to the screen with cinematic techniques that were themselves radical. Inspired by the deconstructive experiments of the French New Wave, Oshima created a cinema that epitomized the boundary-pushing zeitgeist of young Japan. His most famous film, IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES, is the most controversial work of Japanese cinema, having been variously censored and banned upon initial release due to its uncompromising sexual imagery. His other works, while less explicit, are no less challenging and transgressive. We are proud to present this selection of films by the master.

Special thanks to the Japan Foundation for their assistance in making this program possible.