I got to see Oshima’s final fim, Gohatto, actually in Japan, in early 2000 — which is to say, smack-bang in the middle of what turned out being a brief, modest but undeniable golden age of Japanese cinema (say, from The Eel, Hana-Bi and Princess Mononoke to Blood and Bones, Howl’s Moving Castle and Nobody Knows).
One of my strangest film experiences ever was seeing one of Oshima's films in a theater in Berlin in 1990. I think it was the original language with German subtitles, but whether it was subtitled or dubbed, my German wasn't good enough to understand much of the dialogue. (I don't speak any Japanese other than loan words.) The film was extraordinarily bizarre. It was only later that I figured out it was IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES. I still haven't seen it with English subtitles. I'm reluctant to modify that original weird exposure to it, which seemed entirely appropriate somehow, reducing me to my senses as it were.
In the Realm of the Senses and Merry Christmas Mr.Lawrence are Oshima's best known films in the west. But to get a handle on the scope and depth of his career one must see The Man Who Lift His Will On Film, Dear Summer Sister, Death by Hanging, Diary of a Shinjuku Thief, Boy, The Ceremony andThree Ressurrected Drunkards
I'll always appreciate "In the Realm of the Senses" as it got me laid a long, long time ago. But then the relationship went south and the film, particularly the ending, started giving her other ideas so I had to get away fast. Nevertheless, a real achievement.
This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. I love seeing websites that understand the value of providing a quality resource for free.
Many thanks for the exciting blog posting! I really enjoyed reading it, you are a brilliant writer. I actually added your blog to my favorites and will look forward for more updates. Great Job, Keep it up.
R.I.P. - a true giant.
Posted by: skelly | January 15, 2013 at 12:27 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtyG5jvx2gg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G0AqFp1_eM
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | January 15, 2013 at 01:18 PM
I got to see Oshima’s final fim, Gohatto, actually in Japan, in early 2000 — which is to say, smack-bang in the middle of what turned out being a brief, modest but undeniable golden age of Japanese cinema (say, from The Eel, Hana-Bi and Princess Mononoke to Blood and Bones, Howl’s Moving Castle and Nobody Knows).
Posted by: Oliver_C | January 15, 2013 at 04:25 PM
One of my strangest film experiences ever was seeing one of Oshima's films in a theater in Berlin in 1990. I think it was the original language with German subtitles, but whether it was subtitled or dubbed, my German wasn't good enough to understand much of the dialogue. (I don't speak any Japanese other than loan words.) The film was extraordinarily bizarre. It was only later that I figured out it was IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES. I still haven't seen it with English subtitles. I'm reluctant to modify that original weird exposure to it, which seemed entirely appropriate somehow, reducing me to my senses as it were.
Posted by: Randy Byers | January 15, 2013 at 07:11 PM
In the Realm of the Senses and Merry Christmas Mr.Lawrence are Oshima's best known films in the west. But to get a handle on the scope and depth of his career one must see The Man Who Lift His Will On Film, Dear Summer Sister, Death by Hanging, Diary of a Shinjuku Thief, Boy, The Ceremony andThree Ressurrected Drunkards
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | January 15, 2013 at 08:41 PM
The Ceremony's playing tonight at MoMA and again this weekend. Otherwise, it's not available on DVD in the U.S.
Posted by: J. Priest | January 16, 2013 at 02:25 PM
I'll always appreciate "In the Realm of the Senses" as it got me laid a long, long time ago. But then the relationship went south and the film, particularly the ending, started giving her other ideas so I had to get away fast. Nevertheless, a real achievement.
Posted by: Michael Webster | January 16, 2013 at 03:32 PM
Diary of a Shinjuku Thief is also playing Thursday night at MoMA.
Posted by: Jim Gerow | January 16, 2013 at 05:15 PM
Mr. Webster:
When I saw IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES, I was in the habit of going to most art movies with a female friend. I decided to go to this one alone.
Posted by: Victor Morton | January 17, 2013 at 05:33 PM
One wonders if Eiko Matsuda is somewhere in the bowels of obscurity, mourning this occasion.
Posted by: Scott Is NOT A Professional Film Critic | January 25, 2013 at 02:21 AM
This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. I love seeing websites that understand the value of providing a quality resource for free.
Posted by: Best Stock Analysis | February 09, 2013 at 04:42 AM
Just FIY, the Japanese title in the photo caption is misspelled. It is supposed to be "Seishun zankoku monogatari"
Posted by: Cobus | February 10, 2013 at 12:08 PM
Many thanks for the exciting blog posting! I really enjoyed reading it, you are a brilliant writer. I actually added your blog to my favorites and will look forward for more updates. Great Job, Keep it up.
Posted by: Fritz Spohn | February 14, 2013 at 07:00 AM
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Posted by: ari tietolman | February 16, 2013 at 01:56 AM