Empire of Passion

In many ways I like this more than Oshima's 'Senses' - which is a necessary comparison. The Japanese (maybe it's Shintoism?) really do take their ghosts for granted: I love the way the cop is called to the town explicitly because the commoners see the ghost, and everyone treats the apparition as nonchalantly as the woman's supposed affair. The ending is ballsy and the equivalent of a punch to the face.

English title notwithstanding, the comparisons to In the Realm of the Senses are inevitable - where that film revels in the liberation of a love across class and social boundaries, the protagonists here are trapped in an unwinnable fight against institutional forces (depicted here as almost supernatural in their power). Packed with some of the most ravaging color cinematography of Oshima's career, the film's beauty stands in stark contrast to the muted freedom of Senses.

In some important ways this a supernatural sequel to 'In The Realm Of The Senses', only this time it is the man possessing the woman and it concerns killing an other and not the self. While it lacks the impact of the graphical sexual content of that infamous film, Ôshima here realises a more refined and cohesive visual narrative that is ultimately more rewarding for the viewer. The use of slow motion is expertly done and the music by Toru Takemitsu is suitably haunting.

I went to watch this thinking it was an unconventional horror film but got bored to tears after the second pussy eating scene. Romance-Drama-Horror it's listed as here and a horror thriller on imdb, it's not

I'm shocked at how conventional this all is. Take your average ghost story, throw in some eroticism, and that's all folks.

Viewed February 17, 2020.

A dreamlike mood piece mixed with doses of sex. The acting is good, the pace is slow and the atmosphere is eerie and creepy.

A good Horror, but shallow. I can't understand why people like to parallel Empire of Passion and In the Realm of the Senses, for me they deserved completely two levels. I shouldn't had any expectation because of the latter, which made me kind of disappointed for the former. (good acting though.)

A companion piece to In the Realm of the Senses, but less a radical political statement and more an exercise in formal aesthetic, and in that respect it succeeds admirably.

Unlike its companion, In the Realm of the Senses, this film is wrapped up in a more conventional but ultimately more satisfying ghost story. Oshima's visual stylization is very effective at creating a spooky, moody atmosphere, although there are some silly moments. And his misogynistic side shows through, as Seki is seduced in a typically male fantasy version of rape. However, it's not a bad movie overall. As a psychological melodrama/supernatural horror flick, it performs well enough.

The shooting's OK, but nothing more. Why does every film Oshima adapted from someone else's story seem empty?

Kapak niye türkçe lan? :D

The policeman's terrible detective skills are only bested by Seki's lamentable mothering.