In 1936, in the midst of rising Japanese militarism, a former prostitute, Sada, goes to work as a maid in a brothel. The house's handsome owner, Kichizo, soon begins to court her, and Sada eagerly returns his attentions. Their subsequent affair and constant lovemaking grow more and more intense, and their sexual obsession threatens to destroy them both. Nagisa Oshima's long-awaited erotic Japanese masterpiece (initially banned from the New York Film Festival in 1976) is finally available. Contains highly explicit content, recommended for adult audiences only.

Theatrical Release: July 17, 1977.

Film was to have been screened at the 1976 New York Film Festival, but was seized and banned by United States Customs officials in October 1976 due to its graphic sex scenes. It opened in New York City on July 17, 1977, after the ban was reversed.

Rereleased theatrically in New York City, for the film's 20th anniversary, in a new 35mm print July 12, 1996.

DVD Features:

Region 0
Keep Case
Letterboxed - 1.66
Audio:
Mono - Japanese
Interactive Features:
Interactive Menus
Scene Access
Text/Photo Galleries:
Production Credits
Filmographies

Eiko Matsuda: Japanese Actress, IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES (1976)
Tatsuya Fuji: Actor - GAPPA

Nagisa Oshima: Japanese Director

"...Oshima has crafted an uncompromising portrait of obsessive sexual passion..."