Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

In The Realm of The Senses Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 7, 2011

Screened at the Cannes Film Festival, Japanese director Nagisa Oshima's controversial "Ai no korîda" a.k.a. "In the Realm of the Senses" (1976) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Optimum Home Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include David Thompson's documentary "Once Upon A Time: In the Realm of the Senses"; video interviews with crew members and the film's producer; panel discussion at Birbeck College; and deleted scenes. In Japanese, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked". Please be advised that the film contains explicit footage that is not appropriate for minors!

The Seductress

There is hardly anything that I could write about Japanese director Nagisa Oshima’s In the Realm of the Senses that has not already been written by other critics. After all, for years this was the most explicit art film that was legally available in the United States and, for better or worse, many had an opinion on it before they had seen it. Now, for the first time ever In the Realm of the Senses has also been officially released uncut in the United Kingdom.

Pre-war Japan. Sada, (Eiko Matsuda, Detective Doberman, Five and the Skin) a former prostitute now working as a maid, falls for her employer, Kichizo (Tatsuya Fuji, Cherry Blossoms in the Air, Empire of Passion), after she sees him making love to his wife. The two begin a torrid affair where they explore their fantasies and push each other to the limit. The more the relationship progresses, however, the more Sada and Kichizo begin challenging each other, and eventually pain and humiliation replace pleasure.

There are two basic ways of explaining In the Realm of the Senses to those who wish to learn more about it without seeing it. The first, and more simplistic one, makes a point that In the Realm of the Senses is a pornographic film disguised as art (obviously, the non-simulated sex in the film has a lot to do with it). The second addresses the film as an unconventional form of rebellion that tackles cultural taboos and perceptions of the two sexes and their roles in the Japanese society in an extreme fashion (hence, the reason why it is Sada who initiates the scandalous relationship the film chronicles).

Even though it is Sada who serves as a catalyst for all the drama and controversy in Oshima’s film, however, Kichizo is the more fascinating character to deconstruct. He undergoes a tremendous transformation that appears to be directly related to Oshima’s intent to criticize the male-dominated societal structure of post-war Japan (despite the fact that the story is actually set during the 1930’s).

Excluding the controversial finale, there are two key scenes in In the Realm of the Senses - Kichizo having an intercourse with an elderly geisha while Sada watches; Sada allowing Kichizo to taste her menstrual blood – that attack the very core of Japanese traditionalism. They are not easy to deconstruct by non-Japanese viewers, but are certainly very telling of Oshima's intent if viewed in the right context.

Technically, the film is just as fascinating as are the transformations Sada and Kichizo undergo. During the first half, Oshima's camera continuously observes the action from afar; there are no close-ups, which is one of the key reasons why In the Realm of the Senses does not arouse. It isn't until much later on - to be specific, not until the train scene where Sada dreams of Kichizo - that the audience is finally allowed to examine the faces of the two protagonists.

Note: In 1976, In the Realm of the Senses was awarded Sutherland Trophy, for most original and imaginative film, at the British Film Institute Awards.

In The Realm of The Senses Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.66:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Nagisa Oshima's In the Realm of the Senses arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Optimum Home Entertainment.

Note: The Blu-ray contains the fully uncut, 102-minute version of the film.

The high-definition transfer appears to have been sourced from the same master Criterion had access to when they prepared their Blu-ray release of In the Realm of the Senses (which I believe comes from France). Unsurprisingly, detail and clarity are very impressive. The color-scheme is also dramatically improved, effectively putting to shame all DVD releases of In the Realm of the Senses. Contrast levels are stable and unmanipulated. Additionally, there are no traces of artificial sharpening or severe denoising affecting detail and the film's grain structure. Naturally, a layer of light grain is always present. Finally, the high-definition transfer looks very healthy - there are no random large scratches, debris, cuts, or warps. To sum it all up, aside from the brightness levels being ever so slightly pushed up (or the brightness levels being ever so slightly toned down on the Criterion release), In the Realm of the Senses looks as impressive here as it does on Criterion's release. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).

In The Realm of The Senses Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one audio track on this Blu-ray disc: Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. For the record, Optimum Home Entertainment have provided optional English subtitles for the main feature.

The loseless track is excellent. I used to own a R4 DVD which had plenty of distortion issues and quite a bit of mild to moderate hiss plaguing the Japanese track. None of these issues are present here (or on the excellent Criterion release). The traditional Japanese music is rich and bright. The dialog is always crisp, clean, stable, and easy to follow. For the record, there are no pops, cracks, or problematic audio dropouts.

In The Realm of The Senses Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Once Upon A Time: In the Realm of the Senses - a long and very informative documentary, directed by David Thompson, which focuses on the production history of In the Realm of the Senses, the controversy it created during the years, and its importance. The documentary was produced by Arte France. In English, French, and Japanese, with imposed English subtitles where necessary. (53 min, PAL).

• Recalling the Film - 2003 program featuring interviews with consulting producer Hayao Shibata, line producer Koji Wakamatsu, assistant director Yoichi Sai, and distributor Yoko Asakura. In Japanese and French, with optional English subtitles. (39 min, PAL).

• Panel Discussion at Birbeck College - a panel discussion of Nagisa Oshima's film with Julian Ross, film historian and curator, Vertigo Magazine; Jasper Sharp, writer, curator and author of Behind the Pink Curtain: The Complete History of Japanese Sex Cinema; Roland Domenig, Japanese Film Scholar, University of Vienna; and Mathieu Capel, scholar of Japanese Cinema. In English, not subtitled. (57 min, PAL).

• Deleted Scenes - the six deleted scenes are the same deleted scenes that appear on the Criterion Blu-ray release. With Nagisa Oshima's approval, producer Anatole Dauman shortened six scenes, to bring the film to his preferred length. The sections of deleted footage are presented here in the context of their original placement in the film. They appear in full color, surrounded by final-cut footage in black and white. In Japanese, with optional English subtitles. (13 min, 1080p).

In The Realm of The Senses Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Japanese director Nagisa Oshima's controversial In the Realm of the Senses is officially released uncut for the first time ever in the United Kingdom. The only important omission in this Blu-ray release, courtesy of local distributors Optimum Home Entertainment, is the excellent audio commentary by film historian and critic Tony Rayns, which appears on the Criterion Blu-ray release. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.