Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Profound Desires of the Gods Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov May 26, 2010

Winner of Best Director and Best Film Kinema Junpo awards, Shohei Imamura's "Kamigami no Fukaki Yokubo" a.k.a "The Profound Desires of the Gods" (1968) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Eureka Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include a new video introduction by film scholar Tony Rayns and the film's original Japanese theatrical trailer. The disc also with an extensive illustrated booklet with a new essay by Rayns, rare stills, reprinted statement by Imamura, a lengthy 1994 career interview and a transcript of Imamura's introduction and Q&A session at the 1994 Edinburgh International Film Festival's screening of the film. In Japanese, with optional English subtitles. Region-B "locked".

Kurage Island

Kariya (Kazuo Kitamura, Sailor Suit and Machine Gun), a senior engineer from Tokyo, is sent to the remote Kurage Island to drill a well. Upon arrival, he is quickly introduced to Kametaro (Choichiro Kawarazaki, River of Fireflies), an ambitious but superstitious man from the Futori family, who is hired to be his guide. Kariya also meets Ryu (Yoshi Kato, Hometown), a supervisor from the local factory, who warns him that he must respect Kurage's gods when he begins drilling.

Nekichi (Rentaro Mikuni, Shinran: Path to Purity), another member of the Futori family, is chained in a giant pit and told to dig until the gods forgive his sins. Nekichi has confessed that he is in love with his sister Uma (Yasuko Matsui, In the Realm of the Senses), who, for now, has been spared by the gods because she is a noro (shaman). While studying the area, Kariya discovers that the best place to drill is next to the shrine where Uma communicates with the gods.

Upon learning that Kariya and his men have begun drilling in the sacred area Nekichi leaves the pit and begins sabotaging their work. Puzzled and irate, Kariya approaches Yamamori (Kanjuro Arashi, The Fort of Death), the patriarch of the Futori family, and asks for help. Instead, he is introduced to Toriko, Yamamori's retarded daughter, who immediately falls in love with Kariya.

A giant typhoon hits Kurage Island and drilling stops. At the same time Yamamori dies, while Nekichi decides to escape with Uma after a giant rock falls in the pit where he used to be chained. The two steal a boat and leave the island but are quickly followed by a group of angry men who are told that Ryu, who has been secretly seeing Uma, has been murdered.

Shohei Imamura's Profound Desires of the Gods is a fascinating and, I must admit, extremely challenging film, which many Western viewers will likely have a difficult time fully deconstructing. On one hand, Profound Desire of the Gods is about Japan's transformation into an industrial juggernaut - as seen and experienced by an isolated community with unique customs, traditions, beliefs and practices. On the other hand, the film is a remarkably bold examination of man's relationship with nature, which gradually evolves into a fascinating satire of sorts, where truths are countered with various Japanese myths (such as the one mentioned early into the film about the two gods, a brother and sister, who, after making love, supposedly created the Okinawa Islands). Obviously, unfamiliarity with these myths makes many of the unique references in Profound Desires of the Gods difficult to grasp.

From the elaborate religious rituals to the documentary-like footage showing different animals and insects coexisting in harmony, the emphasis on detail in Profound Desires of the Gods is staggering. It is not, however, surprising. With these fascinating comparisons Imamura shows that despite their ability to communicate their feelings and emotions, men and animals are very much alike - they are driven by the same primitive needs and desires.

Technically, Profound Desires of the Gods is a remarkable accomplishment. The beautiful overshots from the island as well as the innovative use of color add a very unique, deeply poetic flavor to the film. Considering the enormous amount of improvisations, the cast is also shockingly good. Hideko Okiyama, in particular, who plays the retarded nymphomaniac daughter of the Futori patriarch, is incredible. She truly looks possessed.

Note: In 1969, Profound Desires of the Gods won Best Film, Best Screenplay (Shohei Imamura and Keiji Hasebe), and Best Supporting Actor (Kanjuro Arashi) awards at the Mainichi Film Concours.

Profound Desires of the Gods Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Shohei Imamura's The Profound Desires of the Gods arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Eureka Entertainment.

This is a lovely high-definition transfer (according to the press materials I received, with exclusive digital image restoration). Fine object detail is strong, clarity consistently pleasing and contrast levels pleasing. The panoramic shots from the island, for example, look stunning in 1080p. The close-ups are also convincing. Colors looks warm but fresh. The variety of different blues, greens and browns are most impressive. During the nighttime scenes, however, the blacks look somewhat soft. Edge-enhancement and macroblocking are not a serious issue of concern. While viewing the film, I also did not see any traces of heavy noise reduction. The high-definition transfer is also free of banding, heavy digital artifacts and halo effects. There are no serious stability issues to report in this review either. Blown through a digital projector, the image remains tight around the edges. Finally, I did not see any large cuts, marks, dirt, or stains. To sum it all up, this is a very pleasing presentation of a little seen in the West wonderful film by by Japanese director Shohei Imamura. (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).

Profound Desires of the Gods Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one audio track on this Blu-ray disc: Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 (Mono). For the record, Eureka Entertainment have provided optional English subtitles for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 track is solid. The dialog is crisp, clean and very easy to follow. Toshiro Mayuzumi's music score also sounds lovely. Additionally, the DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 track allows for as much fluidity potent dynamics as possible. Finally, while viewing the film, I did not detect any disturbing pops, cracks, or hiss to report in this review. There are no problematic audio dropouts either.

Profound Desires of the Gods Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Booklet - an extensive illustrated booklet with a new essay by film scholar Tony Rayns, rare stills, reprinted statement by Shoei Imamura, a lengthy 1994 career interview and a transcript of Imamura's introduction and Q&A session at the 1994 Edinburgh International Film Festival's screening of the film.

Introduction - a wonderful video introduction by Tony Rayns. In English, not subtitled. (PAL, 12 min).

Trailer - the original Japanese theatrical trailer for the film. In Japanese, with optional English subtitles. (6 min, 1080p).

Profound Desires of the Gods Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Arguably Japanese director Shohei Imamura's most ambitious film, Profound Desires of the Gods has received a wonderful treatment by the enthusiasts at Eureka Entertainment. Obviously, this film belongs in the library of anyone who is even remotely interested in classic Japanese cinema. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.