Movies
Oshima's one-of-a-kind samurai drama. There aren't that many films that feature gay romances among samurai, let alone put their singular focus on the subject. That alone makes this worth a watch. Then there's the stellar performance by Ryu Matsudo, who even outshines Japanese greats like Kitano and Asano here. The cinematography is moody, the soundtrack is very stylish and the intrigue is tangible. Taboo is a film that delivers on all accounts, without ever overreaching or forcing itself.
Remarkable film. Oshima delivers a movie that's surprisingly explicit, slow-paced and devoid of plot, but somehow there's a constant tension that keeps things interesting. Well-shot too and building up to a sprawling finale, this is easily the best Oshima I've seen so far.
