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Licensor Information
Argos Films
Directed by: Nagisa Oshima
Featuring: Tatsuya Fuji, Kazuko Yoshiyuki, Takahiro Tamura, Takuzo Kawatani, Masami Hasegawa, Akiko Koyama, Taiji Tonoyama
With an arresting mix of eroticism and horror, Oshima plunges the viewer into a nightmarish tale of guilt and retribution in Empire of Passion (Ai no borei). Set in a Japanese village at the end of the nineteenth century, the film details the emotional and physical downfall of a married woman and her younger lover following their decision to murder her husband and dump his body in a well. Empire of Passion was Oshima’s only true kaidan (Japanese ghost story), and the film, a savage, unrelenting experience, earned him the best director award at the Cannes Film Festival.
Streaming Options
29489.
+23832
Stream
2
Release Information:
Technical Specifications
Format:
DVD
Disc:
DVD-9 (1 Disc)
Total: 1 Disc
Regions:
1 (DVD)
Aspect Ratio:
1.66:1
Audio Options:
Japanese Dolby Digital Mono 1.0
Resolution:
480p/29.97
Subtitles:
English
Supplements
Types of Supplements Included: Video Essay, Interview, Theatrical Trailer, Booklet
- Double Obsession: Seki, Sada, and Oshima, a new video essay by film historian and critic Catherine Russell
- New interviews with actors Kazuko Yoshiyuki and Tatsuya Fuji
- An interview program from 2003 featuring production consultant Koji Wakamatsu and assistant directors Yusuke Narita and Yoichi Sai
- U.S. trailer
- A booklet featuring an essay by renowned critic and historian Tony Rayns and a 1978 interview with Nagisa Oshima
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Film
Picture
Audio
Supplements
Artwork
Release Credits
Artwork: Neil Kellerhouse
Producer: Abbey Lustgarten
Release Notes on Restoration
Empire of Passion
Empire of Passion is presented in the aspect ratio of 1.66:1. On standard 4:3 televisions, the image will appear letterboxed. On standard and widescreen televisions, black bars may also be visible on the left and right to maintain the proper screen format. This new high-definition digital transfer was created on a Spirit Datacine from the original 35mm camera negative. Thousands of instances of dirt, debris, and scratches were removed using the MTI Digital Restoration System.
Presented in its original monaural format, the soundtrack was remastered at 24-bit from a 35mm magnetic soundtrack. Pops, crackle, hiss, and hum were reduced with an array of audio restoration techniques.
Presented in its original monaural format, the soundtrack was remastered at 24-bit from a 35mm magnetic soundtrack. Pops, crackle, hiss, and hum were reduced with an array of audio restoration techniques.