Nagisa Ōshima (March 31, 1932 – January 15, 2013) was a Japanese film director, screenwriter and producer, known for his ability to create provocative and controversial films. He is one of the most influential directors of twentieth-century Japanese cinema, with a career spanning more than 40 years.
Debuts
Nagisa Ōshima was born in Kyoto, Japan, in 1932. He studied law at Kyoto University before turning to cinema. He began working for the Shochiku Company, one of Japan’s largest film production companies, and made his first film in 1959, entitled “A City of Love and Hope”.
Film work
Over the course of his career, Nagisa Ōshima has directed over 20 films, many of which have received international critical acclaim. His best-known works include “The Hanging” (1968), “The Empire of Passion” (1978) and “Furyo” (1983).
1959: A City of Love and Hope aka The Boy Who Sells Doves (愛と希望の街, Ai to kibō no machi)
1960: Cruel Tales of Youth (青春残酷物語, Seishun zankoku monogatari)
1960: The Burial of the Sun (太陽の墓場, Taiyō no hakaba)
1960: Night and Fog in Japan (日本の夜と霧, Nihon no yoru to kiri)
1961: The Trap (飼育, Shiiku)
1962: The Revolted (天草四郎時貞, Amakusa Shirō Tokisada)
1965: The Pleasures of the Flesh (悦楽, Etsuraku)
1966: The Obsessed in Broad Daylight (白昼の通り魔, Hakuchū no tōrima)
1967: Secret Ninja Notebooks (忍者武芸帳, Ninja bugeichō)
1967: About Japanese bawdy songs (日本春歌考, Nihon shunkakō)
1967: Japanese Summer: Double Forced Suicide (無理心中日本の夏, Muri shinjū: Nihon no natsu)
1968: The Hanging (絞死刑, Kōshikei)
1968: The Return of the Three Drunkards (帰って来たヨッパライ, Kaettekita yopparai)
1969: Diary of a Shinjuku Thief (新宿泥棒日記, Shinjuku dorobō nikki)
1969: The Little Boy (少年, Shōnen)
1970: He Died After the War (東京戰争戦後秘話, Tōkyō sensō sengo hiwa)
1971: The Ceremony (儀式, Gishiki)
1972: A Little Sister for Summer (夏の妹, Natsu no imōto)
1976: The Empire of the Senses (愛のコリーダ, Ai no korīda)
1978: The Empire of Passion (愛の亡霊, Ai no bōrei)
1983: Furyo (戦場のメリークリスマス, Senjō no merī Kurisumasu)
1986: Max mon amour (マックス、モン・アムール, Makkusu, mon amūru)
1999: Taboo (御法度, Gohatto)
Ōshima was known for his ability to deal with controversial subjects such as sex, violence and power, with a raw, uncompromising style of filmmaking. His films were often banned or censored for their explicit content, but were also acclaimed for their intelligent and thoughtful treatment of social and political themes.
Awards and Recognition
Nagisa Ōshima has won numerous awards for her films throughout her career. He was nominated for the Palme d’Or several times, winning the Jury Prize at Cannes in 1978 for “The Empire of Passion”. He also received the International Critics’ Prize in Venice for “The Hanging”.
Ōshima is also known for discovering many talents in Japanese cinema, such as Takeshi Kitano, who began his acting career under his guidance.
Legacy
Nagisa Ōshima’s career has marked Japanese and international cinema, and his legacy continues to influence contemporary directors. His provocative and uncompromising directing style was hailed for his honesty and courage, and his ability to deal with taboo subjects opened new horizons for Japanese cinema.
