Odd Obsession (1959)

Tatsuya Nakadai: Kimura

Photos 

Quotes 

• [first lines] 

  [English subtitled version] 

  Kimura : [breaking the fourth wall in talking directly into the camera]  Man's aging is believed to begin at the age of ten. Eyes begin to lose their elasticity at ten. Ears begin to dull at twenty. Man's eyesight begins to weaken at forty. His sense of taste becomes blunt at fifty. His sense of smell abates at sixty. Then, at seventy, he loses two-thirds of his physical functions. This theory says a man becomes twelve millimeters shorter every twenty years. This theory may not be conclusive. Yet no one can escape the effects of aging. It is inevitable. You too.

  Kimura : [after smiling and laughing]  This is the interesting case of a pathetic man who attempted to fight aging. He's not a complete stranger to me.

  [the scene opens up to show that Kimura is in his medical office with middle-age patient, Kenji Kenmochi, about who he was speaking] 

• [English subtitled version] 

  Kimura : [showing some nude photos to Toshiko]  He asked me to develop the film, and I've enlarged what he selected. Don't crumple them... Look. Daring poses, eh? They are reckless.

  Toshiko Kenmochi : But why did he ask you?

  Kimura : It's only a guess... He wants me to desire her. Then he uses his jealousy as a kind of stimulant to make himself feel young.

  Toshiko Kenmochi : Fascinating. So you've become my father's aphrodisiac.

• [English subtitled version] 

  Kenji Kenmochi : Toshiko is hard to understand sometimes.

  Kimura : She's wise.

  Kenji Kenmochi : When someone says a girl is bright, he means she is homely.

  Kimura : You misunderstood me.

  Kenji Kenmochi : She doesn't have her mother's looks, but they're very much alike.

• [English subtitled version] 

  Kenji Kenmochi : Thank you for taking care of me. I remember it vaguely. You carried me here, gave me an injection and nursed me until dawn.

  Kimura : Injection? I did not. I left around 12:00.

  Kenji Kenmochi : But look. The mark. You stayed here until dawn, didn't you?

  Kimura : Did I... behave?

  Kenji Kenmochi : What's come over me? Don't we sometimes have fantastic dreams?

  Kimura : It was probably just a wild dream.

• [English subtitled version] 

  Toshiko Kenmochi : Your game is Mother.

  Kimura : His game.

  Toshiko Kenmochi : [after kissing Kimura]  I can play too. If it's your wish.

• [English subtitled version] 

  Kimura : I didn't know you were so drunk.

  Ikuko Kenmochi : I lose control when I drink.

  Kimura : Then you'd best stop drinking.

  Ikuko Kenmochi : I drink because my husband wants me to.

  Kimura : You do everything he wants?

• [English subtitled version] 

  Kimura : I wanted to come sooner. I wanted to bring you some cod roes from home, sir. I've been waiting for them to arrive.

• [English subtitled version] 

  Toshiko Kenmochi : Excitement is bad for him.

  Kimura : Yes, that's right.

  Toshiko Kenmochi : Mother may have known about his failing health and wanted to kill him by exciting him with your help.

• [English subtitled version] 

  Toshiko Kenmochi : We own nothing here. Even the house is mortgaged.

  Kimura : I'm sorry to hear it. But your mother is so cheerful.

  Toshiko Kenmochi : She was born that way. I'm sure she'll make a carefree beggar.