ONLINE EVENT - The Japan Society Film Club: Taboo directed by Nagisa Oshima
Date
Friday 9 May 2025*
Time
6.30pm (BST)
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Booking Details
Online meeting on Zoom
Please register for the meeting in advance from the link below. After registering, you will receive an automated confirmation email with meeting access details (please check your spam folder if you don't receive any emails).
Free for members of The Japan Society
Please remember to watch the film in advance.
Taboo is available to buy in DVD.
A free screening is planned in London on Thursday 8 May 2025 - contact us at events@japansociety.org.uk for more details.
* Please note this event will be held on a Friday instead of the usual Wednesday.
Please help us to keep this event free and open to all!The Japan Society is a charity and its activities are made possible thanks to the support of its members. If you are planning to attend this event and are not a member (as an individual or through your employer), please consider becoming a member or making a donation if you can - the recommended donation is £5. Thank you!   |
For our film club in May, we will be exploring the captivating and provocative queer cinema classic Taboo, directed by the renowned master Nagisa Oshima.
Taboo (御法度, Gohato, 1999) is a visually striking and provocative exploration of desire, power, and repression within the late Edo-period samurai militia, the Shinsengumi. The film follows the arrival of the beautiful and enigmatic Kano Sozaburo (Matsuda Ryuhei), whose presence disrupts the rigid hierarchy and discipline of the group as he attracts the admiration and jealousy of his comrades. As tensions rise, desire and violence become inseparable, culminating in an atmosphere of intrigue and paranoia. Blending historical drama with Oshima’s signature subversion, Taboo challenges notions of masculinity, honor, and forbidden love in a rigidly structured world.
Nagisa Oshima (1932–2013) was a pioneering Japanese filmmaker known for his bold, politically charged, and provocative works that challenged social norms and censorship. Emerging from the so-called Japanese New Wave, he gained international recognition with films like Death by Hanging (1968), In the Realm of the Senses (1976), and Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983). His films often explored themes of sexuality, power, and rebellion, pushing cinematic boundaries both thematically and stylistically. With a career spanning decades, Oshima remained a radical voice in Japanese cinema, unafraid to confront taboo subjects and redefine the art of filmmaking.
Do you love Japanese film classics, anime or contemporary cinema stories? Do you miss Japan and want to see it at least on screen? Would you like to learn and discuss about Japanese culture and society? The Japan Society Film Club is an online space to chat about films and Japan in an informal atmosphere. It take place on the first Wednesday of the month. We recommend a film to watch in advance and meet online to discuss. Films are often available online for free, to rent or with subscription, on DVD/Blu Ray or on BFI player. The event is open to all and we encourage participants to freely express their opinions and feelings about the films.
If you have any questions, please call The Japan Society office on 020 3075 1996 or email events@japansociety.org.uk.