Probably one of the most well-known explicit films about sex and sexuality. Based on true events, the movie tells about Sada Abe (Eiko Matsuda), a hired servant, who catches the eye of her master and in turn becomes infatuated with him. Their relationship quickly turns sexual in nature, but things start to slowly head downhill when that aspect of their lives consumes more and more of their waking hours.
And yes, there is a lot of sex in this film. Unsimulated sex, in fact. But it's not really a pornographic film. It's a film about obsession and how we can become so consumed by one thing in our lives that it's hard for us to cope if that thing turns sour or is taken away from us or taken too far. And in this case the subject of that obsession is sex.
No doubt many a person has watched this film purely for the "mating" scenes, but I think that a lot of those viewers were not expecting to also get a story out of it. A discussion about what it means to commit to someone and whether that's even possible without the mental and intellectual dimension present in almost all relationships. With a sprinkling of social commentary concerning Japan's political leanings thrown in the mix.
Is it a masterpiece of a film? No, not really. Is it something you've likely never seen before? Most probably. Worth a watch? Well... depends.
And yes, there is a lot of sex in this film. Unsimulated sex, in fact. But it's not really a pornographic film. It's a film about obsession and how we can become so consumed by one thing in our lives that it's hard for us to cope if that thing turns sour or is taken away from us or taken too far. And in this case the subject of that obsession is sex.
No doubt many a person has watched this film purely for the "mating" scenes, but I think that a lot of those viewers were not expecting to also get a story out of it. A discussion about what it means to commit to someone and whether that's even possible without the mental and intellectual dimension present in almost all relationships. With a sprinkling of social commentary concerning Japan's political leanings thrown in the mix.
Is it a masterpiece of a film? No, not really. Is it something you've likely never seen before? Most probably. Worth a watch? Well... depends.