1. In the Realm of the Senses (1976)
In 1936 Japan, Sada Abe is an ex-prostitute working as a maid in a hotel owned by Kichizo Ishida. Kichizo molests her one day and the two begin a an intense erotic affair with Kichizo abandoning his family for Sada. Sada is becoming more possessive and jealous of Kichizo, and he in turn will do anything to please her. During all the sex that's going on, Kichizo finds that he likes to be strangled while making love. This is how Sada kills him. She also chops off his penis and testicles. Critics of the film have often pointed out how morbid and death obsessed Japanese erotic films are. There is certainly a sense of doom in the air throughout the movie - the characters kept going so far in their perversions, it was bound to end with death. The doom is also cemented by the presence of Japanese soldiers in the run up to World War Two. Japan was a highly militarised society at this point. Essential viewing for lovers of extreme or taboo breaking cinema, In The Realm Of The Senses. People discuss the film as to whether it is art or pornography. It straddles a thin line but I would call the film erotic art. The film has serious intent and is beautifully crafted.