Taboo

"How am I insane?"

1999 1h 40m JA

👍

6.6

SOLID

★6.6TMDB · 132

DramaHistoryThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Set during Japan's Shogun era, this film looks at life in a samurai compound where young warriors are trained in swordfighting. A number of interpersonal conflicts are brewing in the training room, all centering on a handsome young samurai named Sozaburo Kano. The school's stern master can choose to intervene, or to let Kano decide his own path.

“How am I insane?”

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Cast

Takeshi Kitano
Toshizo Hijikata
Ryuhei Matsuda
Sozaburo Kano
Tadanobu Asano
Hyozo Tashiro
Yōichi Sai
Isami Kondo
Shinji Takeda
Okita Sōji
Susumu Terajima
Spy
Tomorowo Taguchi
Samurai Tojiro Yuzawa
Yoji Tanaka
Samurai executed by Kanô

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Nagisa Ōshima
Writers: Nagisa Ōshima
Languages: Japanese
Countries: Japan, France, United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

27 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: Japan, France, United Kingdom.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Nagisa Ōshima, shot by Toyomichi Kurita. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Ryuichi Sakamoto. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Tomoyo Oshima shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Takeshi Kitano and Ryuhei Matsuda and Tadanobu Asano carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "How am I insane?".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0213682 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Nagisa Ōshima directs. Toyomichi Kurita behind the camera. Ryuichi Sakamoto scores. Tomoyo Oshima cuts. Produced in Japan, France, United Kingdom. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

127 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2International production across 3 countries: Japan, France, United Kingdom.
3Directed by Nagisa Ōshima, shot by Toyomichi Kurita. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Ryuichi Sakamoto. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Tomoyo Oshima shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Takeshi Kitano and Ryuhei Matsuda and Tadanobu Asano carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "How am I insane?".
8IMDB entry: tt0213682 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Classified under 8 themes, including "japan", "based on novel or book", "male homosexuality", "kyoto, japan".