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In the Realm of the Senses
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In the Realm of the Senses

1976
Romance
Drama
1h 49m
Based on a true story set in pre-war Japan, a man and one of his servants begin a torrid affair.
Directed by:
Nagisa Ôshima Nagisa Ôshima
Written by:
Nagisa Ôshima Nagisa Ôshima
Starring:
Tatsuya Fuji Tatsuya Fuji Eiko Matsuda Aoi Nakajima Yasuko Matsui Meika Seri Kanae Kobayashi
More
Genres:
Romance, Drama
AKAs:
Ai no corrida, Ai no korîda
Countries:
France, Japan
Language:
Japanese
imdb More information at IMDb
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In the Realm of the Senses

1976
Romance
Drama
1h 49m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 47.6% from 777 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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peaceanarchyPeaceAnarchy
Rated 13 May 2009
44
4th
An absolutely ridiculous movie. It's artistic porn but there's not much there beyond the novelty. The production values are good but the story and characters are thin and uninteresting and the brashness of the sex scenes got to the point where I was laughing at how absurd it was. Whatever commentary about passion exists in the film is overshadowed by the unrelatable forms it takes.
Rated 13 May 2009
maM_A
Rated 11 Jul 2010
70
57th
great date film
Rated 11 Jul 2010
mentaculusMentaculus
Rated 22 Aug 2010
77
65th
If the goal of a porn is to elicit an erotic response, then this either isn't what gets me horny, or isn't a porn. Besides the shockingly lucid poetic realism of the cinematography and editing, I was surprised by the subtle but gorgeous use of music to give the proceedings more depth. The tone of the film, after the nudity and constant sex sinks in, has an eerie quality that made some of the content (pulling on the child's penis) the equivalent of horror. I appreciate it, but won't see it twice.
Rated 22 Aug 2010
martintellerMartinTeller
Rated 14 Aug 2007
38
5th
Is it art, or is it porn? Well, I say it's both, and it's not good at either one. This story could have been told with a LOT less sex, and without the graphic detail.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
magbMagb
Rated 06 Dec 2010
40
10th
Who knew sex could be so boring? This is a pointedly polemic film, and it still comes off as quite edgy 35 years after it came out, which is _something_ I guess. It's remarkably unenjoyable, though. Like, I'm not sure I've ever watched a less enjoyable film. Parts of it are kind of nice looking, but that's about the only thing the film does to make the audience like it. The sex scenes get increasingly abrasive and tedious, and the flat characters can, in my opinion, go fuck themselves.
Rated 06 Dec 2010
sockmanSockman
Rated 11 Feb 2011
15
8th
what the fuck is this shit
Rated 11 Feb 2011
thedenizenTheDenizen
Rated 07 Sep 2009
50
26th
This flick is packed with explicit sex scenes between the two main actors: penetration, blowjobs, money shots, the whole deal. This was a serious film with real actors and such, but it is pretty boring. The sex scenes aren't titillating enough to serve as porn or exploitation (though the fetish crowd might dig some of the choking with silk scarves stuff), and the rest of the story isn't interesting enough to make it worthwhile.
Rated 07 Sep 2009
eveeluneveelun
Rated 28 Nov 2007
59
20th
The film seems too content in shocking the audience with explicit sex and doesn't really present a story that's all that compelling. Some of the images are undeniably striking, though.
Rated 28 Nov 2007
cowmanCowman
Rated 15 Jun 2008
30
4th
At some point the girl shoves a hard boiled egg up her snatch. Afterwards she 'poops' it out like a chicken. Then the girl and her lover eat the egg. You decide if you still want to watch it.
Rated 15 Jun 2008
spunkieSpunkie
Rated 08 Apr 2007
75
90th
Oshima takes on a contraversial subject matter that is hard to swallow and open to exploitation. The movie is quite graphic and most will slap it towards porn. But the tension between the couple is far more intense inside that made me clench my teeth most of the time. Extremely hard to swallow, view with discretion.
Rated 08 Apr 2007
lady_moeLady Moe
Rated 02 Feb 2011
80
49th
A film so extreme that it had to be released in France to avoid censorship, ItRofS tells the story of a sadist named Sada Abe, based on the real person of the same name. The film is filled with unsimulated sex and toes the line between a "respected" drama film and what is commonly viewed as a pornographic film. It is a quiet film filled with many tense scenes involving taboo sexual practices, inviting the audience to judge what they see on film. It neither condones nor condemns the characters.
Rated 02 Feb 2011
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 10 Jan 2008
50
38th
Japanese cinema was easier and quicker to liberalize than others, because their culture never had the same conservative antibodies as cultures of Abrahamic religiosity. After Japan's Pink Film trend of the 1960s in particular, Nagisa Oshima's small step further into fetish-porn art cinema should not have caused the scandal/international sensation that it did. Especially being that as porn it's not very arousing, and as a feature film it's only sporadically interesting.
Rated 10 Jan 2008
jpfergusonJPFerguson
Rated 26 May 2021
65
64th
This is far from a perfect film or masterpiece, but it is without a doubt very brave film making both in terms of content and the portrayal of that content. But more than this, it is brave film making with an admirable purpose; to confront the viewer with the close interlinking of (fulfilling) sexual desire and possessing an other's being (via the body). In that sense, and this is important, it is not gratuitous in nature.
Rated 26 May 2021
joojooJooJoo
Rated 23 May 2011
5
80th
I went in expecting something insubstantial, but this is not porn, it's art (or at least, artful porn). Erotic and psychological tension is a constant, and as it continues, these points grow more and more connected.
Rated 23 May 2011
neonmanNeonman
Rated 14 Mar 2015
51
7th
Probably more sex than an actual porno, it gets really repetitive and who knew watching two people fuck could end up becoming so boring? I can see the point in this film being made, but it seemed to be more of a self-referential theme referring to the boundaries of film-making, so in my eyes, this is a outdated film in these porn-glory internet days.
Rated 14 Mar 2015
cestmoicestmoi
Rated 31 May 2008
50
26th
Explicit, but not particularly erotic.
Rated 31 May 2008
elmakebabielmakebabi
Rated 03 Jul 2010
39
10th
Pointless... When you cut the sex scenes, you have nothing left in your hand!;
Rated 03 Jul 2010
kramyessevKramYessev
Rated 24 Sep 2014
41
20th
It's not art and it's not porn. It's boring.
Rated 24 Sep 2014
turinturin
Rated 08 May 2007
30
4th
A thin line from pornography - only for those interested how far one can get.
Rated 08 May 2007
iqcumberiqcumber
Rated 05 Mar 2018
53
16th
Not enough going on to be interesting. Just read the Sada Abe wikipedia page.
Rated 05 Mar 2018
redflagredflag
Rated 08 Feb 2018
95
80th
This film builds slowly. The Bonnie and Clyde of sex.
Rated 08 Feb 2018
1qw3er51qw3er5
Rated 08 Dec 2009
9
91st
It receives unfortunate stigma because of it's explicit nature, but it skillfully tells of sex and it's relation to domination, political movements and society. It's incredibly easy to view this as just a "bad porno" but if you can believe that a porno would be shot and conceived in the same way as Ai no Corrida, than I'd have to say you're looking in the wrong direction.
Rated 08 Dec 2009
armilioArmilio
Rated 21 Dec 2014
45
5th
And endless art-porn, with a good ending. The problem is to reach that. And you can not even fap troughout, is not a good movie for fapping. In 1976 it can be provocative, tabù-breaker. In 2015, not.
Rated 21 Dec 2014
svengaliSvengali
Rated 16 Aug 2012
15
5th
I liked the bird dildo, egg scene and that last thing was cool.
Rated 16 Aug 2012
adiljunadiljun
Rated 12 Oct 2021
74
93rd
i found it unexpectedly funny. I didn't like it before but now I hate Noe's Love. he is coward. this is love. peaceout.
Rated 12 Oct 2021
peyrinpeyrin
Rated 24 May 2020
80
81st
Nymphomaniac, Volume 0. In which Oshima bathes the delicate relationship in the cold, grey cinematography of a repressive society.
Rated 24 May 2020
pigletPiglet
Rated 17 Jun 2009
65
41st
Here in the west too much emphasis has been put on the penis. But really it's so much more. Especially the relationship between the two, it's so passionate it's scary. Based on a true story.
Rated 17 Jun 2009
theyshoot07theyshoot07
Rated 01 Mar 2008
86
77th
# 272
Rated 01 Mar 2008
muutanetmuutanet
Rated 04 Jul 2017
67
60th
Nagisa Oshima's study of an obsession was pretty rude. How far you could go with love? When pleasure turns to obsession and obsession harmful for you and ones near you. That he captured good. I used to have this movie since 1996, recorded with VCR, but haven't seen it in long, long time. Now I decided to rewatch remastered version of it.
Rated 04 Jul 2017
huahHuah
Rated 26 Jul 2012
85
63rd
Regardless of it's nuanced comparison with pornography, the film is still concurrent with classical Japanese art-house film. It is graphically explicit which wouldn't have been feasible without its listing as a French production. I think many viewers misjudge Oshimas' intention of the film and fall into the disposition of it as a porn redressed into a pretentious outre of cinematic art. All in all, the eerie subtlety of the music and photography wields an intransigent model of sadomasochism.
Rated 26 Jul 2012
fantacbobFantacBob
Rated 12 Jun 2009
60
39th
A fairly erotic romantic drama. OK.
Rated 12 Jun 2009
judo_koalaJudo Koala
Rated 10 Sep 2019
70
34th
The absolute best final shot. The rest I can quite honestly take or leave, regardless of how truly ravishing each set piece appears. Sex, who knew it could become so rote!
Rated 10 Sep 2019
theyshoot08theyshoot08
Rated 19 Dec 2008
87
74th
257
Rated 19 Dec 2008
blairBlair
Rated 31 Jul 2012
63
5th
I can see where 50 Shades of Grey got its inspiration from.
Rated 31 Jul 2012
jeffvjeff_v
Rated 28 Mar 2011
63
32nd
An interesting slow-boiler about an obsessive couple who continually up the ante until mutually assured destruction is their fate. Set against the backdrop of 30s Japan, there are political implications here, though they're hardly stressed. It's worth watching once.
Rated 28 Mar 2011
muteashesMuteAshes
Rated 22 Sep 2013
92
99th
Eternal classic as a Japanese movie. Very thoughtful but not pretentious at all. According to my knowledge and understanding, it conveyed all the inexplicable essence of Japanese culture in a natural way. Undoubtedly, Oshima was wise.
Rated 22 Sep 2013
st_bernaSt. Berna
Rated 24 May 2013
70
53rd
Filmi kaydadeger bir film -sanat filmi- olarak gorenler olabilecegi gibi, konulu porno olarak nitelendirenler de haksiz sayilmaz. Ama anti-muhafazakar ve sonsuz ozgurlukcu biri olarak, biraz dusuk puan verisimin sebebi bu degil elbette. Porno ve erotik sahnelerin cogu, hicbir gorsel estetige, teknik ve sanatsal beceriye hizmet etmiyor. Dogru duzgun bir senaryo da yok ortada. Ozetle, butun olarak bakildiginda da kopuk, yetersiz, zayif bir film.
Rated 24 May 2013
ahamel7896ahamel7896
Rated 12 Jun 2012
7
54th
Sicko spectacle, but not as good as SADA. A noble attempt at bringing pornography into the mainstream, though. It's at least better than Caligula.
Rated 12 Jun 2012
kenmeistersKenMeisters
Rated 13 Aug 2021
65
46th
A very explicit movie about love, affection and desire. Shocking enough to keep things interesting but all that fucking gets repetitious after a while.
Rated 13 Aug 2021
metismetis
Rated 06 Aug 2021
60
18th
???????????????????
Rated 06 Aug 2021
nathan_sNathan S
Rated 21 Jan 2014
4
74th
Not just a provocative psychosexual thriller, but also a pointed political statement that confronts Japanese social repression. The plotting is thin, but the characters are strong figures of cultural rebellion. The cinematography, editing, and music go a long way in distancing this film from qualifying as pornographic, not just because it's beautiful, but because it uses cinematic language to inspire empathy. This is a bold film, still shocking and relevant, and still banned in Japan.
Rated 21 Jan 2014
nathanbatesNathanBates
Rated 16 Jul 2021
40
5th
Really grasping at straws to connect this with political allegory. The costumes are fine, and the music is decent, but when the constant sex starts getting boring, what else is left?
Rated 16 Jul 2021
ottott
Rated 28 Nov 2018
75
68th
toke it's toll but after a while a thought it was a rewarding experience
Rated 28 Nov 2018
qvtQVT
Rated 19 Jul 2011
20
29th
what the hell is this
Rated 19 Jul 2011
lisa_iilisa-
Rated 25 Nov 2014
1
1st
take the tedious prostitution drama of flowers of shanghai and add in a bunch of ridiculously romanticised porn and you've got this stupid, boring nonsense that is weirdly reminiscent of the piano, another awful 'erotic romance' film. 1qw3er5 says he can't believe people think that porno would be shot like this - which surprises me, because this feels very aesthetically similar to a lot of porn i used to watch. perhaps hilarious in a particular frame of mind. didn't bother finishing.
Rated 25 Nov 2014
slantmagSlantMag
Rated 17 Oct 2010
35
90th
"To paraphrase a crack from Pauline Kael: light the incense, perverts." - Eric Henderson
Rated 17 Oct 2010
thehynesthehynes
Rated 03 Feb 2017
35
5th
this film aint Chinese but there's an awful lot of Wangs in it
Rated 03 Feb 2017
psimpsim
Rated 26 Jul 2021
69
25th
A transgressive story of love, lust and obsession about two people who isolate themselves from everything that happens in the world beyond their bedroom. Not an easy watch, but it is certainly memorable and it doesn't seem to have lost any of its shock value.
Rated 26 Jul 2021
gnalkhereGnalkhere
Rated 25 Oct 2015
69
39th
The depiction of the women as delicacies despite the extensive sex is a difficulty of today's cinema
Rated 25 Oct 2015
djennikDjennik
Rated 30 Apr 2013
65
33rd
I watched this film without foreknowledge. I was rather baffled.
Rated 30 Apr 2013
lilithkduatLilithKDuat
Rated 04 Sep 2022
70
0th
In the Realm of the Senses was added to the watch list because of 2 things - It had unsimulated sex acts on screen, and it had a Criterion Collection release, which meant it was classy. It was...fine. Read my full review: https://www.lilithlikestowatch.com/2018/09/lilith-watches-in-realm-of-senses.html
Rated 04 Sep 2022
rpossobonr.possobon
Rated 20 Mar 2016
75
24th
Too strange!
Rated 20 Mar 2016
theyshoot10theyshoot10
Rated 13 Jan 2010
87
74th
269
Rated 13 Jan 2010
k177105k177105
Rated 22 Mar 2020
60
33rd
A woman's desires for a man's free virility and for his chastity, spiralling towards a fatal infinite in their tension because of the hidden desperation about the impossibility of real control over a man. Among all the crazy sexual acts it contains, this movie is an unusual and more or less interesting demonstration of the multi-dimensionality of and the complex intertwinement within female desire, though its significance might lie beyond what the director himself intended to express.
Rated 22 Mar 2020
billyshearsBillyShears
Rated 29 Jan 2013
65
42nd
WAtched this on Hulu, SO MANY APPLEBEE COMMERCIALS.
Rated 29 Jan 2013
le_mamile mami
Rated 13 Oct 2023
60
52nd
a bit boring and repetitive. and so is sex (when there is no kinkyness). then does that make the film realistic? well maybe. but so realistic is mostly boring too. well, when the film is so open about its intentions, i think my review should be so open too. what i write here may contradict each other, but the previous film i have watched was a serious man. so excuse me, bitte
Rated 13 Oct 2023
shockularSHOCKULAR
Rated 23 Jun 2022
10
0th
Basically a artsy porno. Did absolutely nothing for me on any level. Boring and weird more than anything.
Rated 23 Jun 2022
shewasSheWas
Rated 16 Jul 2015
99
99th
Stop the swing of the pendulum, let us through ~ ~ Oh, to be in love. And never get out again
Rated 16 Jul 2015
icarusIcarus
Rated 24 Jul 2021
40
8th
Unchecked desire will choke the life right out of you. As great a theme as that is, this film is tedious. Ironically, in going over the top and explicit, the film form models its theme, leaving a rather lifeless, albeit often nicely composed (visually and musically), film.
Rated 24 Jul 2021
rydeorwrongrydeorwrong
Rated 12 Aug 2021
27
19th
Host ratings: 30 / 69 / 65. Podcast review link: https://rydeorwrong.podcaster.de/rydeorwrong/folge-098-im-reich-der-sinne-1976-wild-at-heart-dune-f9-the-fast-saga/
Rated 12 Aug 2021
theyshoot11theyshoot11
Rated 30 Nov 2011
87
74th
#262
Rated 30 Nov 2011
three-questions_ii???
Rated 09 Apr 2016
39
23rd
It's childish and primitive, in a funny way, and one of the most deeply pro-castration movies i've seen. But apart from that it's mostly uncomfortable.
Rated 09 Apr 2016
caffecaffe
Rated 29 Nov 2016
37
15th
It's fascinating to see a movie focusing on graphic sex being so beautifully and properly made (the photography is stunning throughout). Having said that, there's really too little story here for the running time and considering how unlikeable (or outright psychopathic) the characters are you almost come away thinking the movie condemns the sex acts portrayed within it. For this movie to kinkshame seems like a weird case of having your pussy egg and eating it too.
Rated 29 Nov 2016

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