Les fruits de la passion (1981)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Shuji Terayama

Writers:

Dominique Aury (novel)
Shuji Terayama (adaptation) ...

Release Date:

November 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A girl loves an older man. He demands that she goes in a brothel, as evidence that she loves him.

Plot Keywords:

Brothel | Prostitute | Oral Sex | Flashback Sequence | Fantasy Sequence

Cast

Isabelle Illiers	...	O
Klaus Kinski	...	Sir Stephen
Arielle Dombasle	...	Nathalie
Peter	...	Madame
Keiko Niitaka	...	Aisen
Sayoko Yamaguchi	...	Sakuya
Hitomi Takahashi	...	Byakuran
Miyuki Ono	...	Kasen
Yuka Kamebuchi
Kenichi Nakamura	...	Le jeune homme, Ogaku
Akiro Suetsugu	...	Obana
Renji Ishibashi	...	Kato
Takeshi Wakamatsu	...	Le gardien de la maison
Georges Wilson	...	Le narrateur (voice)
Maria Meriko	...	La mort

Also Known As:

Fruits of Passion
Shanghai Ijin Shôkan - China Doll (Japan)
The Story of O Continued

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

France | Japan

Language:

Cantonese | Japanese | English | French

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Italy:VM18 | Australia:R | France:-16

Filming Locations:

Hong Kong, China

Company:

Argos Films

A beautifully photographed, sad story in exotic environment

First I need to say that this film is not a porn movie nor it is trash. If you expect an erotic film, you will be disappointed, although there are some sexual scenes. The text of the DVD sleeve (I own the Anchor Bay version) awakens wrong expectations for this movie and contains false information about the story. Instead, I found its photography a very beautiful artwork. It is made with a high sense for colors, great images, perfectionism in detail and a beauty in its pictures that is found rarely in newer movies in the western world. Maybe this is one reason why it may bore some people with a more speedy expectation for films then it is shown in this slowly developing story. The exotic environment of the story is a brothel in Hongkong, 1920, where "O", a French girl, surrenders totally to Mr. Steven (Klaus Kinski), desperately hoping to reach his heart.

If this was an American movie, it would have surely a happy end - but it is an eastern and sad story of an unfulfilled love. I find it worth to watch it more than once to enjoy its artwork and to understand its deep symbolism. It is not an easy film, especially for those used to watch Hollywood-productions only. Be prepared to watch it consciously and with full attention, otherwise you might not like it. I highly recommend it for people with a sense for somehow old-fashioned esthetics, art, eastern culture, beautiful images, and, of course, it is a must-see for all the fans of the greatest German actor, Klaus Kinski.