Pleasures of the Flesh
dir. Nagisa Ōshima · 1965
Feature
Moral Ambiguity
Mood
Dark / Melancholic
Look
stark contrasts, surreal imagery, and a blend of realism with absurdity
Structure
fragmented and nonlinear, with a focus on character introspection
Plot
After committing murder, businessman Atsushi is blackmailed into keeping a suitcase of embezzled money. What follows is a descent into lustful, reckless actions and regret.
Why watch
Atsushi, a businessman, finds himself ensnared in a web of blackmail after committing murder, forced to navigate a world where lust and greed dictate his every move. Watching this film is like stepping into a fever dream where the absurdity of life collides with the weight of moral decay, leaving you questioning the very fabric of human desire and consequence.
Talking points
- the nature of guilt and consequence
- the absurdity of human desires
- the intersection of crime and morality
- the impact of societal expectations on individual choices
Cultural context
post-war Japanese societythe rise of consumerismexistential philosophyand the influence of the avant-garde movement