Empire of Passion

The follow-up to Nagisa Oshima's notorious In The Realm of the Senses, this sublime period drama also stars the brilliant Tatsuya Fuji as an ex-soldier and adulterer whose ardent affair with the wife of an elderly rickshaw driver enamours the pair in mystery and murder. Despite the steamy sex scenes (though less explicit than In the Realm of the Senses) and horror shocks, the mood is mournful and tender, with Oshima blending film noir, ghost-story and detailed period imagery to make this one of his most accessible and entertaining works. Having been overshadowed by its more infamous predecessor, this sensual, provocative and visually rich film - which earned Oshima the Best Director Award at the Cannes Film Festival (it was also nominated for the Golden Palm) - is due for rediscovery. (Umbrella Entertainment)