Direction: Nagisa Ôshima

The best movies, series, and documentaries directed by Nagisa Ôshima. Explore exceptional titles that showcase a unique filmmaking vision.


The Rebel (The Revolutionary)

1962 · Movie · 100 min. · Japan

Direction Nagisa Ôshima

Cast Hashizo Okawa · Ryutaro Otomo · Satomi Oka · Rentarô Mikuni

Synopsis The Rebel (The Revolutionary) (1962) unfolds in 1637 Shimabara, Japan, during the Tokugawa shogunate. The narrative revolves around a group of downtrodden peasant Christians who rise up against the ruling shogunate. Their rebellion is fueled by the leadership of a...

7.1

52 votes

7.1

52 votes

Death by Hanging

1968 · Movie · 117 min. · Japan

Direction Nagisa Ôshima

Cast Kei Sato · Fumio Watanabe · Toshirô Ishidô · Masao Adachi

Synopsis Death by Hanging (1968) follows the bizarre aftermath of a botched execution. A Korean man, sentenced to death by hanging, inexplicably survives the ordeal. Over the next two hours, the executioners grapple with the surreal and absurd situation, trying to...

7.0

279 votes

7.0

279 votes

The Catch

1961 · Movie · 104 min. · Japan

Direction Nagisa Ôshima

Cast Rentarô Mikuni · Hugh Hurd · Jun Hamamura · Toshirô Ishidô

Synopsis The Catch (1961) is a compelling World War II drama directed by Nagisa Oshima that delves into the themes of prejudice and misunderstanding. The narrative revolves around an African American pilot who is shot down and subsequently held captive in...

7.0

67 votes

7.0

67 votes

Boy

1969 · Movie · 105 min. · Japan

Direction Nagisa Ôshima

Cast Tetsuo Abe · Fumio Watanabe · Akiko Koyama · Tsuyoshi Kinoshita

Synopsis Boy (1969) is a cinematic exploration that, while not as overtly experimental as some of Nagisa Oshima's other works from the same era, carries a potent political undertone. The film delves into Japan's complex relationship with its marginalized and impoverished...

6.9

129 votes

6.9

129 votes

A Town of Love and Hope

1959 · Movie · 62 min. · Japan

Direction Nagisa Ôshima

Cast Hiroshi Fujikawa · Yuki Tominaga · Yûko Mochizuki · Michio Ito

Synopsis A Town of Love and Hope (1959) centers around a young man named Masao, who faces significant challenges after his father's passing. His mother is ill, and his sister has mild intellectual disabilities. To support his family, Masao works diligently...

6.8

80 votes

6.8

80 votes

Direction Nagisa Ôshima

Cast Kazuo Goto · Emiko Iwasaki · Sugio Fukuoka · Keiichi Fukuda

Synopsis The Man Who Left His Will on Film (He Died After the War) (1970) is a thought-provoking cinematic experience directed by Nagisa Oshima that presents more inquiries than it resolves, delving into themes of politics, filmmaking, and youth culture. The...

6.8

93 votes

6.8

93 votes

Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence

1983 · Movie · 124 min. · Japan

Direction Nagisa Ôshima

Cast David Bowie · Ryuichi Sakamoto · Takeshi Kitano · Jack Thompson

Synopsis Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983) follows the story of Jack Celliers, a British soldier captured in 1942 and sent to a Japanese prison camp. The camp is overseen by Captain Yonoi, a stern officer who deeply values discipline, honor, and...

6.8

3K votes

6.8

3K votes

The Ceremony

1971 · Movie · 123 min. · Japan

Direction Nagisa Ôshima

Cast Kenzo Kawarazaki · Atsuko Kaku · Atsuo Nakamura · Akiko Koyama

Synopsis The Ceremony (1971) delves into the intricate tapestry of Japan's war and post-war eras, as observed through the lens of a young man from a prominent family. This film is renowned as Nagisa Oshima's most personal and autobiographical work, reflecting...

6.8

139 votes

6.8

139 votes

Night and Fog in Japan

1960 · Movie · 107 min. · Japan

Direction Nagisa Ôshima

Cast Miyuki Kuwano · Fumio Watanabe · Hiroshi Akutagawa · Shinko Ujiie

Synopsis Night and Fog in Japan (1960) is a cinematic masterpiece by Nagisa Oshima that employs a wedding celebration of two young political activists as a dynamic backdrop for a sequence of intense political confrontations. The film is renowned for its...

6.7

76 votes

6.7

76 votes

Violence at Noon

1966 · Movie · 99 min. · Japan

Direction Nagisa Ôshima

Cast Hideo Kanze · Hideko Kawaguchi · Saeda Kawaguchi · Narumi Kayashima

Synopsis Violence at Noon (1966) delves into the intricate themes of sexuality and brutality that permeate Japanese society. The film meticulously constructs the character of a rapist and murderer through the recollections of his wife and one of his victims. This...

6.6

126 votes

6.6

126 votes

Cruel Story of Youth

1960 · Movie · 96 min. · Japan

Direction Nagisa Ôshima

Cast Yusuke Kawazu · Miyuki Kuwano · Yoshiko Kuga · Toshiko Kobayashi

Synopsis Cruel Story of Youth (1960) follows the tale of a young woman named Makoto, who frequently spends her time in a bar and relies on strangers for rides home. One fateful night, the man who offers her a lift has...

6.6

254 votes

6.6

254 votes

Diary of Yunbogi

1965 · Documentary · 32 min. · Japan

Direction Nagisa Ôshima

Cast Hosei Komatsu

6.5

26 votes

6.5

26 votes

The Sun's Burial

1960 · Movie · 87 min. · Japan

Direction Nagisa Ôshima

Cast Masahiko Tsugawa · Kayoko Honjo · Isao Sasaki · Kamatari Fujiwara

Synopsis The Sun's Burial (1960) unfolds in the grimy underbelly of Osaka, where disenfranchised youth resort to petty theft, violence, and exploitation to survive. The narrative revolves around Tatsu and Takeshi, lifelong friends who are drawn into Shin's volatile gang. Shin,...

6.5

136 votes

6.5

136 votes

Empire of Passion

1978 · Movie · 105 min. · Japan

Direction Nagisa Ôshima

Cast Kazuko Yoshiyuki · Tatsuya Fuji · Takahiro Tamura · Takuzo Kawatani

Synopsis Empire of Passion (1978) is a cinematic masterpiece that draws from the rich tradition of kaidan-eiga, or ghost stories, prevalent in Japanese cinema. The film delves into a profound and heart-wrenching tale of forbidden love, exploring themes that challenge societal...

6.4

753 votes

6.4

753 votes

Diary of a Shinjuku Thief

1968 · Movie · 96 min. · Japan

Direction Nagisa Ôshima

Cast Tadanori Yokoo · Rie Yokoyama · Kei Sato · Juro Kara

Synopsis Diary of a Shinjuku Thief (1968) follows the journey of Birdie, a youthful Japanese individual with a penchant for pilfering books. His life takes an unexpected turn when he is apprehended by a woman named Umeko. As their paths intertwine,...

6.4

104 votes

6.4

104 votes

The Pleasures of the Flesh

1965 · Movie · 104 min. · Japan

Direction Nagisa Ôshima

Cast Katsuo Nakamura · Mariko Kaga · Yumiko Nogawa · Masako Yagi

Synopsis The Pleasures of the Flesh (1965) is a thought-provoking film directed by Nagisa Oshima that cleverly employs the "pink" genre to conceal a deeper allegory about the materialistic culture of post-war Japan. The original title, which translates to "Indulgence," sets...

6.3

79 votes

6.3

79 votes

In the Realm of the Senses

1976 · Movie · 100 min. · Japan

Direction Nagisa Ôshima

Cast Eiko Matsuda · Tatsuya Fuji · Aoi Nakajima · Taiji Tonoyama

Synopsis In the Realm of the Senses (1976) is a groundbreaking film that propelled director Nagisa Oshima to international acclaim, revolutionizing the depiction of sexuality in cinema. The movie is based on the true story of Sada Abe, a woman who,...

6.3

11K votes

6.3

11K votes

Sing a Song of Sex

1967 · Movie · 103 min. · Japan

Direction Nagisa Ôshima

Cast Ichirô Araki · Koji Iwabuchi · Kazuyoshi Kushida · Hiroshi Satō

Synopsis Sing a Song of Sex (1967) follows a cohort of high school students from the countryside who travel to Tokyo to take their university entrance exams. Feeling deeply disenchanted with the older generation and pessimistic about their future prospects, these...

6.3

73 votes

6.3

73 votes

Dear Summer Sister

1972 · Movie · 95 min. · Japan

Direction Nagisa Ôshima

Cast Hiromi Kurita · Hosei Komatsu · Akiko Koyama · Shôji Ishibashi

Synopsis Dear Summer Sister (1972) is a cinematic journey that delves into the complexities of moral decay, drawing inspiration from real-life events. The narrative revolves around a young woman from Tokyo who embarks on a quest to find her missing brother...

6.2

26 votes

6.2

26 votes

Three Resurrected Drunkards

1968 · Movie · 80 min. · Japan

Direction Nagisa Ôshima

Cast Kazuhiko Kato · Norihiko Hashida · Osamu Kitayama · Kei Sato

Synopsis Three Resurrected Drunkards (1968) is a vibrant and hilarious comedy that blends a mix of bumbling law enforcement, desperate Koreans, and bewildered Japanese students. The film kicks off with a group of students enjoying a swim, only to discover their...

6.1

41 votes

6.1

41 votes