Directed by Nagisa Ōshima, a provocateur of the Japanese New Wave, The Pleasures of the Flesh (1965) is a stylish, cynical exploration of guilt, obsession, and the emptiness of hedonism. Originally titled Etsuraku, the film masks a biting social allegory within the trappings of a crime thriller.
The Premise
The story follows Atsushi, a young man who commits a desperate act of murder to protect the honor of a woman he loves from afar. His crime is witnessed by a corrupt official who is about to go to prison for embezzlement. Instead of turning Atsushi in, the official blackmails him into a bizarre arrangement: Atsushi must guard a suitcase filled with millions in stolen cash until the official is released five years later.
For years, Atsushi lives in a state of paralyzed anxiety, haunted by his crime and his unrequited love. However, when he learns that the woman he loves has married another, he snaps. Responding to a deep sense of nihilism, he decides to spend every cent of the stolen fortune on a year-long binge of sensory excess—intending to take his own life the moment the money runs out or the owner returns.
Key Cast and Crew
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Director: Nagisa Ōshima
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Atsushi: Katsuo Nakamura
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Shoko (The object of obsession): Mariko Kaga
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The Official: Kei Satō
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Supporting Cast: Yumiko Nogawa, Masako Yagi
Why It Matters
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A New Wave Landmark: The film represents Ōshima’s transition into independent filmmaking, allowing him to experiment with “Pink Film” (softcore erotic) tropes to critique the materialism of post-war Japan.
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Psychological Depth: Rather than a standard thriller, it is a character study of a man who feels his life is already over, viewing the world through a lens of “impending doom.”
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Visual Flair: Known for its bold colors and avant-garde compositions, the film captures the 1960s Japanese “underground” aesthetic perfectly.
“I’ll use this money to buy a year of the most exquisite life… and then I’ll die.”
