In 1969, several Scandinavian countries legalized hardcore pornographic films, followed closely by many European countries and the United States in the very early seventies.  But even by 1976, Japan still had a ban not only on hardcore films, but on genitalia in general.

Nagisa Oshima was already a controversial filmmaker whose sexually-charged films were heavily cut by Japanese censors, but enjoyed great popularity in Europe.  Enter famous French producer Anatole Dauman who distributed Oshima’s films in Europe.  Dauman suggested that Oshima make a hardcore pornographic film.  Since hardcore pornography—including the depiction of genitalia—was illegal in Japan and punishable with prison sentences, the filmmakers had to devise a way to get around the law.

First, the film was made in great secrecy so as to not alert the police or government agencies as to what was going on.  But more importantly, though all the actors, actresses, and film technicians were Japanese, and the film itself was lensed in Japan, Dauman financed the film, technically making the film a French production, thereby finding a loophole in Japan’s law.  But filming was only one part of the dilemma; the real problem was how to develop the film.  If any of the footage was developed in Japan, the entire production could be shut down.  So all footage was sent to France for developing and then edited there as well.

Once the film opened in France (at Cannes), the Japanese authorities became aware of the film, and predictably, were waiting at Customs as Oshima and the completed film arrived in Japan.  It was immediately seized, viewed, and heavily censored.  To this day, the film remains banned and/or censored in many countries across the world, including Japan where the film has never been seen in it’s original version.

Based on actual events that occurred in 1936, the film revolves around a former prostitute, Sada Abe, and innkeeper Kichizo Ishida and their short, torrid love affair that ended in tragedy.  Abe worked at Ishida’s inn and caught the innkeeper’s eye.  They embarked on a sexual affair that increasingly used domination and S&M with Abe being the dominator.  Abe’s jealousy combined with Ishida’s total devotion led Abe to eventually strangle her lover and cut off his genitals so she could “keep him forever.”  The real Sada Abe spent several days after the murder and mutilation traveling from inn to inn until the police caught up with her.  She told the police she even tried to use the genitals for sex, but was unable to complete the act (presumably due to the flaccidity of the removed organ).  She was sentenced to only a handful of years in prison, served her time, and was eventually released, living out her life in Japan as somewhat of a folk hero.  While the film is a fictionalized version of actual events, the basic story remains fairly accurate. 

As far as hardcore pornography goes, this isn’t another Debbie Does Dallas or Behind the Green Door.  Neither is it a film that uses a few snippets of hardcore inserts.  It is more of an art house film.  While there is some hardcore action and clinical nudity, the focus is more on story than on the sex acts portrayed on film.  If hardcore pornography is meant to titillate, than In the Realm of the Senses fails as a strictly pornographic film.  There are very few penetration scenes and they are brief; there are no real money shots; in fact, the film could lose only a few minutes of footage and get an R-rating in the U.S. (and I believe there was such a release several years ago).  The film really revolves around the increasingly dominant role of Sada Abe and the idea of what true love and devotion really mean.  In the film, Ishida intentionally allows Abe to kill him as proof of his undying love for her; in reality, I don’t think it was ever actually proven that the real Abe meant to kill her lover.  It may have been an accident, but the removal of the organs was certainly intentional, so she was charged with murder.

There is much controversy about this film, i.e is this merely pornography disguised as art or is it a legitimate piece of filmic work.  Regardless of what side of the argument you fall on, this film deserves your attention as it is well-made and very thoughtful as well as thought-provoking.  The sex scenes can be intense as a good deal of domination and S&M techniques are exhibited such as slapping and pinching as well as strangulation.  In one wild scene, the lovers show their devotion to each other by eating food “mixed with their own juices” which is pretty disgusting.  But it isn’t a gross-out moment primarily because the actors play the scene so well, the viewer understands the commitment these two are showing each other by consummating this particular act.

The final scene is also a scene that suffers a great deal of censorship.  Once Sada strangles her lover, she removes his genitalia.  This is shown in graphic and highly detailed closeup, and while the phallus is obviously unreal, it is real enough to be a tough scene for most people to watch.