is a 1978 French-Japanese film produced, written and directed by Nagisa Ōshima, based on a novel by Itoko Nakamura. The film was a co-production between Oshima Prods. and Argos Films. Plot In 1895 a rickshaw runner arrives home in a village in Japan. His wife Seki is sexually assaulted by a young neighbour, Toyoji. They became lovers. He's very jealous of Seki's husband and decides that they should kill him. One night, after the husband has had plenty of shōchū to drink and is in bed, they strangle him and dump his body down a well. To avert any suspicions, Seki pretends her husband has gone off to Tokyo to work. For three years Seki and Toyoji secretly see each other. Their relationship has moments of intense passion, but the young man starts to distance himself from Seki. Finally, suspicions in the village become very strong and people begin to gossip. To make matters worse, her husband's ghost begins to haunt her and the law arrives to investigate her husband's disappearance. Cast Tatsuya Fuji - Toyoji Kazuko Yoshiyuki - Seki Takahiro Tamura - Gisaburo Takuzo Kawatani - Inspector Hotta Akyoshi Fujiwara Masami Hasegawa - Oshin Kenzo Kawarazaki Tatsuya Kimura Eizo Kitamura Akiko Koyama - Mother of Landowner Osugi - Dancer Sumie Sasaki - Odame Takaki Sugiura Rinichi Yamamoto Taiji Tonoyama - Toichiro Release The film was Japan's submission to the 51st Academy Awards for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, but was not accepted as a nominee. The film was entered into the 1978 Cannes Film Festival, where Ōshima won the award for Best Director. The film was released on DVD by Fox Lorber Films in 2000 under the title In the Realm of Passion. See also Cinema of Japan List of submissions to the 51st Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film List of Japanese submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film References External links Empire of Passion: Love’s Phantom an essay by Tony Rayns at the Criterion Collection 1978 films 1978 drama films French drama films Japanese drama films Films directed by Nagisa Ōshima 1970s Japanese-language films Adultery in films Films produced by Anatole Dauman Films scored by Toru Takemitsu 1970s Japanese films 1970s French films