Love and Duty

1997 1h 48m JA

🤯

9.0

MASTERPIECE

★9.0TMDB · 1

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Two married couples struggle to cope with their sex lives. Kenji and Misaki, a seemingly happy married couple, lead a sexless life. Misaki, whose numerous seductions have been turned down by her husband Kenji, longs for a way to solve their sexless marriage. On the other hand, Shoko, a career oriented woman, is annoyed by the constant sexual attention she receives from her husband Yoshihiko, who believes fulfilling Shoko’s sexual needs is the greatest expression of love. When a chance meeting brings Kenji and Shoko together in a passionate affair, they suddenly find themselves re-examining their lives and struggling to understand what is truly important.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Hiroshi Tachi
Kenji Okura
Misa Shimizu
Shoko Takeda
Tetta Sugimoto
Yoshihiko Takeda
Reiko Takashima
Misaki Okura
Eri Watanabe
Rieko Matsuda
Kei Tani
Saeki
Yuki Kazamatsuri

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Haruo Ichikura
Writers: Makiko Uchidate, Yo Takeyama
Languages: Japanese
Countries: Japan

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 / 7

ERA

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

CRAFT

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Haruo Ichikura, shot by Seizō Sengen. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Hiroshi Tachi and Misa Shimizu and Tetta Sugimoto carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0329117 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

Only 1 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Haruo Ichikura directs. Seizō Sengen behind the camera. Yuji Ohno scores. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

129 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
3Directed by Haruo Ichikura, shot by Seizō Sengen. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Yuji Ohno. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Hiroshi Tachi and Misa Shimizu and Tetta Sugimoto carry the top of the cast.
6IMDB entry: tt0329117 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Only 1 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.