L’empire des sens

At the height of porno-chic, French producer Anatole Dauman asks Ōshima to shoot an "intellectual porno". He’ll direct the true story of Abe Sada, a prostitute-turned-domestic-servant who becomes her employer’s mistress in an ever-increasing intense, carnal passion, leading to criminal acts. The movie was shot in Japan, but the film was developed in France in order to escape the Japanese censors. The movie scandalized audiences all over and was a triumph wherever it wasn’t prohibited. It was released in France (forbidden for minors) but remained unscreened in Japan until 2000 (where the censored version was released). Ōshima was tried in his country for obscenity (but found innocent). In Belgium, the film was released in three theaters, including Studio Arenberg (where Cinema Nova is now established!). After 48 hours, the Prosecutor intervened, seizing the copies in Brussels. The film was banned: anyone who showed images that went against proper moral was subject to prosecution. The film continued to screen for another 12 days in Maaseik until the Prosecutor of Tongres ordered its seizure (undoubtedly pressured by his counterpart in Brussels). Three people (the distributor and the programmers of the cinemas in Brussels) received hefty fines and were sent to prison without sentence! The press at the time ironically pointed out that the only way to see the movie would be to work at the courthouse, where it was projected during every phase of the trial. After a few underground and private screenings here and there, the film re-emerged in 1994 without eliciting any reaction from the Justice.