A Woman Called Sada Abe - Comparison With In The Realm of The Senses

Comparison With In The Realm of The Senses

Tanaka's version of the Sada Abe story is inevitably compared with Nagisa Oshima's internationally-known In the Realm of the Senses. The most obvious difference between the two is that Tanaka's film, intended for a Japanese audience, could not indulge in the hardcore elements that Oshima's version employed. As a result, Oshima's film, when shown in Japan, was censored, while Tanaka's version played as the director intended it. While Oshima limits his timeframe to the period of the final sexual encounter, Tanaka gives a more rounded portrayal of Abe's life through flashbacks.

While Oshima takes an objective, cool attitude towards the characters, Tanaka takes a warm approach to the subjects, concentrating on the passion between the two lovers. Set almost exclusively in the small room in the inn, Tanaka uses popular songs not only to set up situations, but also to express the emotions of the characters. Tanaka's skillful use of a variety of camera angles prevents the limited setting from becoming monotonous or claustrophobic. Both Oshima's and Tanaka's versions were highly-regarded by critics in Japan, and both films were considered among the top-ten releases for their years.