In the Realm of the Senses (2009)

Featured Audience Ratings

• AJ V

  
  A beautiful, but very adult, film. The story is very powerful and kinda crazy, but I think it was actually based on a true story! An excellent movie about obsession.

• Randy T

  
  Fascinating tale of two lovers who become so obsessed with each other that it eventually consumes them. I lost count as to how many times this couple had sex but it was a LOT. If there ever was a film that could have benefited from a little 'product placement' of Viagra,… More
  Fascinating tale of two lovers who become so obsessed with each other that it eventually consumes them. I lost count as to how many times this couple had sex but it was a LOT. If there ever was a film that could have benefited from a little 'product placement' of Viagra, this would be that film.

• David L

  
  In the Realm of the Senses is a film that has divided opinions among those that have seen it (a number that is not too big thanks to the film being banned in many countries across the globe), but love it or hate it; you have to admit that In the Realm of the Senses is certainly very… More
  In the Realm of the Senses is a film that has divided opinions among those that have seen it (a number that is not too big thanks to the film being banned in many countries across the globe), but love it or hate it; you have to admit that In the Realm of the Senses is certainly very interesting. The plot is allegedly (according to the epilogue) based on a true story, although I would describe it as a more hardcore version of the 1969 Pinku film 'Blind Beast'; although In the Realm of the Senses is a really different experience and could not in any way be considered a copy of the earlier film. The plot primarily focuses on love and obsession, and we get two central characters. They are Kichizo and Sada and the pair meet and fall in love rather quickly. It's not long before they are spending every waking minute together; and most of the time they spend is naked, engaging in sex all the time. Sada soon becomes infatuated with Kichizo and as their relationship becomes more and more intimate, things begin to spiral out of control. This film is somewhat unique for the fact that it's both Japanese and features gratuitous, full-on nudity. The film really doesn't hold back either, and one of the most shocking things about is how seeing the two central characters naked for most of the film doesn't seem like anything out of the ordinary. There's some hardcore and explicit sex scenes too, with blow jobs, anal etc featuring often. The film is sometimes passed off as merely pornography, but it's not a fair statement to make about the film. While it certainly is very pornographic, it's clear that director Nagisa Oshima valued telling a story over shocking his audience and the gratuitous nudity exists to further the point that the film is trying to make. The film is very well made; the cinematography is beautiful and all the performers do well; Eiko Matsuda in particular is excellent as the obsessive leading lady. It's clear that the film is building up to something and while the conclusion is hinted at early on; it's still shocking enough once it arrives. Overall, this is a fantastic film and a must see for cult fans.

• Arash X

  
  Groundbreaking & highly controversial for its time & was banned outright in many countries this movie is based on a true story about sexual obsession, It's somehow monotonous but that's ok and after all it has guts which is a good thing, The uncut version is really… More
  Groundbreaking & highly controversial for its time & was banned outright in many countries this movie is based on a true story about sexual obsession, It's somehow monotonous but that's ok and after all it has guts which is a good thing, The uncut version is really graphic

• Cindy I

  
  Porn dressed up as art. This Japanese-made film tells the supposedly true story of a couple who are sexually obsessed with each other to the point of murder. While it's titillating enough in places (a very quick fellatio scene is here for example), it's actually kinda boring… More
  Porn dressed up as art. This Japanese-made film tells the supposedly true story of a couple who are sexually obsessed with each other to the point of murder. While it's titillating enough in places (a very quick fellatio scene is here for example), it's actually kinda boring watching these people have sex all the time. And once one of the main characters snaps towards the end, it loses all momentum it had. Yawn.

• Pierluigi P

  
  Tedious, nothing more than pornography in disguise. the shoking ending is the only remarkable moment, and it makes the film quite bearable.

• Dean M

  
  Sicko erotic tale.

• Walter M

  
  [font=Century Gothic]"In the Realm of the Senses" takes place in Japan in the 1930's. Sada(Eiko Matsuda) is a former prostitute and the new employee at a teahouse. Upon meeting her boss(Tatsuya Fuji), they begin one of your normal all-encompassing love affairs where… More
  [font=Century Gothic]"In the Realm of the Senses" takes place in Japan in the 1930's. Sada(Eiko Matsuda) is a former prostitute and the new employee at a teahouse. Upon meeting her boss(Tatsuya Fuji), they begin one of your normal all-encompassing love affairs where they only do two things - have sex and drink saki. And they really, really cannot stand to be apart from each other, even with the occasional money and spouse issues.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"In the Realm of the Senses" is an extremely sexually explicit tale that is based on a true story. That having been said, it is not in the least erotic. You do need more than sex to tell a story. Even pornographic movies have a delusion of plot. And like "The Dreamers," I also found this movie very annoying because it is about unsympathetic people who have kinky sex inside while momentous events are happening just outside. The ending is particularly revolting.[/font]

• Quinto W

  
  This movie left me feeling phisically weak. Don't get me wrong, I'm no prude, believe me, but the sexuality of this movie is harrowing and tiring, which is also the point, it's a clear manifestation of these characters relationship, but having only the sex to base us… More
  This movie left me feeling phisically weak. Don't get me wrong, I'm no prude, believe me, but the sexuality of this movie is harrowing and tiring, which is also the point, it's a clear manifestation of these characters relationship, but having only the sex to base us on, well, it doesn't leave a reason to actually care or know either of them.

• Daisy M

  
  In the realm of Senses was wonderfully plotted and expertly acted that it almost had a dream effect. It was an erotic fantasy turned into nightmare. It was the story of a sexual relationship between a young Japanese couple.At first lustful and erotic, they can't get enough from… More
  In the realm of Senses was wonderfully plotted and expertly acted that it almost had a dream effect. It was an erotic fantasy turned into nightmare. It was the story of a sexual relationship between a young Japanese couple.At first lustful and erotic, they can't get enough from each other. However, their obsession ended in tragedy.

• Ivan D

  
  A film about a bizarre sexual obsession and its tragic outcome, the film showed that some human will kill just to attain sexual ecstacy. "In the Realm of the Senses" is not porn, its visual representation is overshadowed by sex scenes, but it has more deeper meaning that… More
  A film about a bizarre sexual obsession and its tragic outcome, the film showed that some human will kill just to attain sexual ecstacy. "In the Realm of the Senses" is not porn, its visual representation is overshadowed by sex scenes, but it has more deeper meaning that will enter your subconscious without you being aware of it. In my opinion, it is "art", but just like the case of "Salo'", it just went too far, and some might think that this film is very sickening. "In the Realm of the Senses" is a heavily depressing film, but its undying ability to change a person's perception of life is undeniably strong, and only few films can do that.

Read all 11 featured audience ratings