Ai no corrida (1976)

Director:

Nagisa Ôshima

Writer:

Nagisa Ôshima (writer)

Release Date:

1 April 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

Based on a true story set in pre-war Japan, a man and one of his servants begin a torrid affair. Their...

Plot Keywords:

Desire | Obsession | Sexual Obsession | Pre War | Fondling

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Tatsuya Fuji	...	Kichizo Ishida
Eiko Matsuda	...	Sada Abe
Aoi Nakajima	...	Toku
Yasuko Matsui	...	Tagawa Inn Manager
Meika Seri	...	Matsuko (Yoshidaya maid)
Kanae Kobayashi	...	Old geisha Kikuryû
Taiji Tonoyama	...	Old Beggar
Kyôji Kokonoe	...	Teacher Ômiya
Naomi Shiraishi	...	Geisha Yaeji
Komikichi Hori	...	Mitsuwa Geisha
Kikuhei Matsunoya	...	Hôkan jester
Akiko Koyama	...	Mansaki Geisha
Yuriko Azuma	...	Mitsuwa Geisha
Rei Minami	...	Mitsuwa Geisha
Machiko Aoki	...	Mitsuwa maid
Mariko Abe	...	Kinu (Yoshidaya maid)
Kyôko Okada	...	Hangyoku (young Geisha)
Kiyomi Yasuda	...	Mitsuwa Geisha
Hiroko Fuji	...	O-Tsune (Yoshidaya head maid)
Tômi Mitsuboshi	...	Chieko (Yoshidaya maid)
Katsue Tamiyama	...	Fat Mansaki maid
Hitomi Fukuhara	...	Bullseye Umbrella Girl
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Hiroko Fujino
Kazune Tomiyama

Directed by
Nagisa Ôshima

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Nagisa Ôshima		writer

Produced by
Anatole Dauman	....	producer
Kôji Wakamatsu	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Minoru Miki

Cinematography by
Hideo Itoh

Film Editing by
Patrick Sauvion
Keiichi Uraoka

Production Design by
Jusho Toda

Costume Design by
Masahiro Katô
Jusho Toda

Makeup Department
Koji Takemura	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Susumu Iwabushi	....	production manager
Eiko Oshima	....	production manager
Katsue Tomiyama	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Yoichi Sai	....	assistant director

Art Department
Hitoshi Nojiri	....	property master
Takashi Ueno	....	property master

Sound Department
Tetsuo Yasuda	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
Terumi Hosoishi	....	special effects
Isao Nishimura	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Kenichi Okamoto	....	lighting technician

Production Companies

• Argos Films
• Oshima Productions
• Shibata Organisation

Distributors

• Argos Films (1976) (France) (theatrical)
• Surrogate (1977) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Aito Mäkinen & Co (1992) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Fox Lorber (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• Forum Film (1997) (Finland) (VHS)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2000) (Finland) (TV) (TV2)
• Madman Entertainment (2001) (Australia) (DVD)
• Primer Plano Film Group Video (2003) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Primer Plano Film Group (2003) (Argentina) (video)
• Atlantic Film (2006) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Future Film (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2008) (Australia) (DVD)
• Arthaus
• Asociace Ceských Filmových Klubu (ACFK) (Czech Republic)
• Criterion Collection, The (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Ripley's Home Video (2006) (Italy) (DVD)

Also Known As:

In the Realm of the Senses (Canada: English title) (USA)
Ai no corrida 2000 (Japan) (reissue title)
Bullfight of Love (Japan) (literal English title)
Empire of the Senses
L'empire des sens (France)
The Realm of the Senses

Runtime:

UK:109 min | 108 min (original version) | Argentina:103 min | Australia:107 min (2000 re-release) | Norway:104 min | USA:101 min | Argentina:98 min (DVD version)

Country:

Japan | France

Language:

Japanese

Colour:

Colour (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:(Banned) (Nova Scotia) | USA:NC-17 (re-rating) (1991) | Canada:R (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Alberta) (1998) | Canada:R (Ontario) (1991) | USA:X (original rating) | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Iceland:Unrated | Finland:(Banned) (cut) (1977) | Finland:(Banned) (uncut) (1976) | Finland:(Banned) (uncut) (1978) | Finland:K-16 (uncut) (1997) | Hungary:18 | Italy:VM18 | Chile:18 | Germany:18 | New Zealand:R18 (re-rating) (2001) | Singapore:(Banned) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) (1992) | Finland:K-15 (DVD version) | Brazil:18 | Portugal:M/18 | Argentina:18 | Australia:(Banned) (1992-2000) | Australia:R (re-rating) (2000) | Australia:X (original rating) | France:-16 | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:(Banned) | Japan:R-18 (re-rating) | New Zealand:(Banned) (original rating) | Norway:18 | South Korea:18 (1999) | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | Japan:(Banned) (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Kyoto, Japan

Company:

Argos Films

Trivia:

The film was banned by Israeli censors in 1987. The ban was eventually overturned by the Supreme Court. See also Jenin, Jenin (2002).

Quotes:

Sada Abe: Now what am I supposed to do?
Kichizo: You mustn't ask me. Aren't you the bride?
Sada Abe: But how should I know? I've never been married before.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in La boum (1980)

Eggcelent Movie

In the Realm of the Senses is a movie I heard about that was said to be incredibly sexual. One of the most, explicit, well made films to be made. And when I found out that it was Japanese I jumped at the chance to check this baby out. Reason being I have yellow fever. Anyways, it turned out to be as good as it was promoted. I was expecting a serious film with that dealt with sex in an extremely adult manner. This certainly did. This movie is full of sex. Almost every scene involves sex in some way. But it's not just you watching people have sex. There are thought provoking conversations during these scenes so you're not just watching some boobs or butt flail around. The dialogue felt very natural between the two actors (maybe due to the fact that they were actually screwing), which made everything very believable. The two actors did a great job. And the dubbing is also fantastic. The voice-over for the male star is awesome. It's a mix of Zap Brannigan from Futurama and Will Ferrell from Anchorman. Some of the lines are fantastic. Here's one..."The only rest I get for my penis is when I pee." And there are many other great lines. Overall the movie delivers with great sex, a simple but great story line, great chemistry between the leading stars and a fantastic ending. Have fun with this one. 8.5 outta 10