Im Reich der Leidenschaft

"Ai no Borei", masterfully crafted by renowned director Nagisa Ôshima, offers a unique blend of eroticism, horror, and drama. Released in 1978, this Japanese film captivates audiences with its surreal and ghostly narrative.

The film follows the tale of a forbidden affair between a younger man and an older woman, Seki, and their subsequent plot to murder her husband, Gisaburo. What follows is a steamy and guilt-ridden journey as the lovers are haunted by the ghost of the murdered man, their perfect plot unraveling amidst local gossip and a police investigation.

Ôshima's direction is a standout feature of this film. He masterfully weaves a complex web of emotions, where the characters' deepest passions and desires are laid bare. The cinematography, though hindered by the quality of some releases, boasts beautiful scenes that have inspired later films, such as "Ringu" and its American remake, "The Ring". The use of specific angles, such as the view of the well from inside, showcases Ôshima's attention to detail and visual storytelling.

The performances are equally impressive, with actors embodying the guilt, passion, and complexity of their characters. The surreal and supernatural elements add depth to the narrative, enhancing the emotional impact of the film.

"Ai no Borei" is a must-watch for fans of Ôshima's work and those seeking a unique blend of eroticism and the supernatural. The film's exploration of guilt and passion in the midst of a surreal love story will leave a lasting impression, showcasing Ôshima's distinct style and talent for pushing boundaries.

An atmospheric, grim, and often visually beautiful film about a man who has an affair with a woman, and convinces her they should murder her husband. Standard plot, but it's done well, and combines the inevitable "things falling apart after a poorly organised crime" stuff with an added horror element, as the murder victim returns as a ghost to haunt the small town the film takes place in.

Wasn't a fan of the horror element at first, as it felt like it wasn't entirely needed, but it grew on me. There are certainly a couple of scenes where the horror stuff is done well, and I guess whether it's a literal ghost or a manifestation of guilt within the minds of certain characters is still nice and ambiguous.

Maybe feels a little long in parts, and there's nothing outstandingly unique about it, but it tells its simple story well, has a great feel-bad kind of mood to it, and all the sets/locations/costumes/other visual aspects are all pulled off expertly.

In the Realm of the Senses is a beautifully filmed, well-written, and splendidly acted film. It tells the haunting story of a woman who kills her husband after falling in love with another man. The ghost of her husband continues to haunt her lond after his murder. This film is really good, anyone interested should definitely check it out.

A nightmarish tale of guilt and retribution, mixing eroticism and horror, Nagisa Oshima's Empire of Passion marks the director's only true kaidan venture, one of immense passion and offbeat humour. It's a bizarre mix of genres but one Oshima handles well, making fantastic use of Yoshio Miyajima's photography and the compelling performances, taking a very simplistic story and structure and delivering it well. The film does tend to meander quite a lot, with long sections not benefitting the tone or atmosphere the rest of the film builds upon, but regardless, this is a rather savage and unrelenting experience even if the ghostly aspects of its story are relatively cheesy, detailing the emotional and physical downfall a murder has on the individual.

People usually think of "In the Realm of the Senses" when they hear Oshima's named mentioned. That film's graphic, semi-pornographic erotic scenes overshadowed director Nagisa Oshima's talents as a film maker. I believe his "Empire of Passion" is a superior film to that 1976 production, in many ways. Here we have a beautiful, and impeccably filmed 'ghost story' that truly succeeds in being "haunting." When the rick-shaw driver returns from the dead, after his wife and her corrupt young lover have murdered him, it is truly chilling. And this film succeeds at being very erotically charged, without explicit sex included. as in Oshima's earlier film, the illicit lovers seem to be obsessively, frantically addicted to each other sexually. Their couplings are feverish, even when things start to turn very dark in their lives. As in earlier works, the two main characters seem to have no control over their sexual appetites, and danger and violence only escalate their desire. "Empire of Passion" is masterfully filmed; the scenes in the mysterious forest with sunlight filtering through the branches overhead, or amidst pounding rain storms and mist-shrouded country roads, every frame of "Empire of Passion" is beautiful and carefully filmed. The scenes of the well are especially haunting and mysterious as the story draws to it's unhappy conclusion. A feeling of bitter hopelessness permeates every frame, and there isn't really anyone to sympathise with. Everyone seems so selfish and corrupt, except for the woman's young daughter, who is caught up in her mother's treachery. It's unfortunate that this film didn't get much attention, as people were most likely expecting another shock film like "In the realm of the senses." This one must have looked quite tame compared to that film, but i do believe this to be the superior of the two. I am looking forward to seeing earlier films from Nagisa Oshima.