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Today sees the hi-def release of two of the most controversial and sexually explicit films of the 1970s, both of which came courtesy of Japanese New Wave auteur Nagisa Oshima – later the director of the more widely seen David Bowie-starring WWII movie Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (incidentally itself coming to Blu-ray next week… we are giving copies away Here).

In two tastefully presented “double play” Blu-ray/DVD sets from StudioCanal come 1976′s In the Realm of the Senses and 1978′s more restrained thematic follow-up Empire of Passion. Both films share the same leading man, Tatsuya Fuji, but whilst the former was either banned or heavily censored upon released due to its many graphic scenes of “unsimulated sex”, the latter (less explicit) work earned Oshima a well deserved Best Director prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

In the Realm of the Senses

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Oshima’s most critically significant text,...

Based on the novel by Itoko Namura and directed by Nagisa Ôshima, the UK Blu-Ray Premiere of Empire of Passion will be available as a Double Play disc set on 17th October. We have three copies of the Double Play Blu-ray & DVD to give away.

A young man has an affair with an older woman. He is jealous of her husband and together they decide that they should kill him. One night, after the husband drinks plenty of sake and gets into bed, they strangle him and dump his body down a well. To avert any suspicions, the woman pretends that her husband has gone to Tokyo for work. For three years the wife and her lover secretly see each other until finally, suspicions become very strong and people begin to gossip. To make matters worse, her husband’s ghost begins to haunt her and the law arrives to investigate her husband’s disappearance.

To mark the release of Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence (1983), In the Realm of the Senses (1976) and Empire of Passion (1978) all from Writer / Director Nagisa Oshima and all of which are all making their way to Blu-ray on 17th October, Studio Canal have given us 5 copies of each movie to give away!

Scroll down for more info on each:

Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence (1983)

Written by Nagisa Ôshima Starring: David Bowie, Tom Conti and Ryûichi Sakamoto Available in Double Play disc set

In 1942 British soldier Jack Celliers (David Bowie) comes to a Japanese prison camp. The camp is run by Yonoi (Ryûichi Sakamoto), who has a firm belief in discipline, honour and glory. In Yonoi’s view, the allied prisoners are all cowards after choosing to surrender in the war instead of committing suicide. When one of the prisoners, interpreter John Lawrence (Tom Conti), tries to explain the Japanese way of thinking,...

Click to see full image (Nsfw)

With the theatrical release of Yusuke Narita‘s Hana to Hebi 3 (Flower & Snake 3) a little over two months away, the film’s official website has been updated with a new video clip of Minako Komukai being tied up by renowned kinbakushi (rope master) Go Arisue during a rehearsal binding session.

Arisue also did the rope work for Takashi Ishii‘s 2004 remake of Nikkatsu’s 1974 film, which itself was adapted from an erotic novel by Oniroku Dan.

Set in Italy, the new film follows the conventions of the previous ones by featuring a woman named Shizuko (Komukai) whose secret desires are unlocked through varying degrees of sadomasochism.

Komukai will also be featured in a new bondage photo book by photographer Masashi Hashimoto which will be released on July 1. There is some concern that it may be too controversial for ordinary bookstores to stock due to the subject matter,...