Trailer
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JFF: Profound Desires of the Gods
(神々の深き欲望) - Japanese Film Festival
Sat
28
Sat 28 Sep 2:00 PM
Arc Cinema
Subtitled
Allocated Seating
Unclassified 15+
175 Mins1968 | DCP | JPN | D: Shohei Imamura | Japanese with English subtitles
Set on the fictional island of Kurage, this expansive drama centres around the highly eccentric Futori family, whose primitive culture and incestuous relationships reflect the island's isolation and cultural stagnation. When Kariya, an engineer from Tokyo, and other outsiders attempt to transform the island into a sugar mill and tourist destination, the Futori clan resists, clinging to their superstitious rituals and taboos.
Carnal, wild and unconventional, Profound Desires of the Gods feels like a fever dream in a land beyond time, earning its reputation as one of Imamura’s most provocative films. Despite its initial commercial failure, the film remains a testament to Imamura's vision, delving deep into themes of identity, exploitation and spiritual redemption. With its unflinching portrayal of a society in flux, the film’s enduring legacy lies in Imamura’s ability to provoke audiences, raising questions about the cost of modernization.
PLEASE NOTE: This film is Unclassified 15+. People under 15 cannot be admitted to the screening.
Content Warning: strong theme of incest, strong coarse language, strong violence, moderate nudity, references to sex and strong depictions of sex and sexual violence, and animal predatory behavior.
Set on the fictional island of Kurage, this expansive drama centres around the highly eccentric Futori family, whose primitive culture and incestuous relationships reflect the island's isolation and cultural stagnation. When Kariya, an engineer from Tokyo, and other outsiders attempt to transform the island into a sugar mill and tourist destination, the Futori clan resists, clinging to their superstitious rituals and taboos.
Carnal, wild and unconventional, Profound Desires of the Gods feels like a fever dream in a land beyond time, earning its reputation as one of Imamura’s most provocative films. Despite its initial commercial failure, the film remains a testament to Imamura's vision, delving deep into themes of identity, exploitation and spiritual redemption. With its unflinching portrayal of a society in flux, the film’s enduring legacy lies in Imamura’s ability to provoke audiences, raising questions about the cost of modernization.
- The film won the Kinema Junpo Award (1969) for Best Director
- The film won the Mainichi Film Concours (1969) for Best Film, Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor (Kanjūrō Arashi)
PLEASE NOTE: This film is Unclassified 15+. People under 15 cannot be admitted to the screening.
Content Warning: strong theme of incest, strong coarse language, strong violence, moderate nudity, references to sex and strong depictions of sex and sexual violence, and animal predatory behavior.