Empire Of Passion

Star Review

After making The Realm of the Senses, Oshima continued his exploration of the violence of overwhelming passion with Empire of Passion. In the film, two lovers decide that they must kill Gesaburo, the woman's husband, as the man cannot bear the thought of him making love to her. The deed done, he is thrown into a well. After a period of calm however, Gesaburo begins to appear in person and in people's dreams, provoking crisis between the lovers.
Sharing similar themes to Realm of the Senses as well as the same male lead, Empire of Passion is actually an atmospheric ghost story with recurring visual themes of water, wheels and mists, and a sparse and subtle musical accompaniment provided by Toru Takemitsu (responsible, among many other films, for the striking soundscapes of Teshigahara's Pitfall). In its atmosphere of measured exposition punctuated by moments of visual shock, it is a recent ancestor of the new generation of Japanese horror exemplified by Hideo Nakata’s Ring.

Graeme Hobbs on 7th July 2005

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Film Description

Aka Ai No Borei. A companion piece to Oshima's notorious 'In the Realm of the Senses' (Ai No Corrida). A soldier conspires with his lover to murder her elderly husband. Three years later his ghost appears, but the threat of discovery rekindles the murderers' illicit passion. Sensual, heady, and visually rich, this won Oshima Best Director at Cannes.

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DVD Extras

• Remastered from restored print
• 'Erotic Cinema In Japan' documentary
• Picture gallery.

Film Details

Cast

Kazuko Yoshiyuki

Technical Details

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