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I was a complete Japanese cinema novice when I watched this film and, while I had to watch it twice to fully appreciate the tone, I now feel the same maddening addiction to it that I've seen in so many other reviewers. The insouciant but deadly thread that Oshima weaves throughout the beautiful shades of 19th cent. Japan is all the more poignant, as he seemed to single-handedly bring a Japanese film icon's son into a profession he now seemed destined for. I've read that Ryuhei-san was more interested in soccer than following his parents into acting, and in likely teenage boy squeamishness, actually turned down the role of Kano because it was a gay character (Matsuda is straight, and now married). Thank goodness he changed his mind, because Oshima had hand picked a boy who held his own among multiple film greats in a way that I have never seen in a teenage actor of his generation...or in anyone since.The only summary I can give is 'exquisite' – a must-see film in my opinion. And really, the explicitly 'gay' scenes are not explicit at all, and even the most butch heterosexual wouldn't be offended (perhaps I'm being optimistic). This is a perfect movie.
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