Ecstasy & Desire – In the Realm of Roman Porno

In 1971, the Japanese film company Nikkatsu launched its Roman Porno series. Until 1988, the studio released over a thousand such high-gloss sexploitation flicks. What set Roman Porno apart from the typical pink film was that the films had the resources of a major studio behind them. Bigger budgets and a staff of trained technicians brought a slicker stylistic sheen to the screen, the films shot in full widescreen and sensuous color. Nikkatsu also cherry-picked the best-looking starlets from its lower-budget rivals, and brought a new wave of younger directors such as Tatsumi KUMASHIRO and Noboru TANAKA to the frontline, whose films would be lauded by critics for their visual inventiveness and narrative complexity. (Jasper Sharp)

NIPPON RETRO presents nine films by those two directors. On May 26, at 3 p.m., Jasper Sharp will give a lecture on “Nikkatsu Roman Porno and Japanese Erotic Cinema”.

In cooperation with the Japan Foundation Tokyo and Japanisches Kulturinstitut Köln

Ecstasy of the Black Rose (a.k.a. Black Rose Ascension)
Ecstasy of the Black Rose © 1975 Nikkatsu
Corporation

Ecstasy of the Black Rose (a.k.a. Black Rose Ascension)

  • 黒薔薇昇天
    Kurobara shoten
  • Director & script: Tatsumi KUMASHIRO
  • Japan 1975, 35mm, 72 min, Japanese with English subtitles
  • With an introduction by Akihiko SHIOTA
  • Saturday, May 27, 22:00 Deutsches Filmmuseum

Details

Following Desire (a.k.a. Sayuri Ichijo: Wet Lust)
Following Desire © 1972 Nikkatsu Corporation

Following Desire (a.k.a. Sayuri Ichijo: Wet Lust)

  • 一条さゆり 濡れた欲情
    Ichijo Sayuri: Nureta yokujo
  • Director & script: Tatsumi KUMASHIRO
  • Japan 1972, 35mm, 70 min, Japanese with English subtitles
  • With an introduction by Jasper Sharp
  • Friday, May 26, 20:00 Deutsches Filmmuseum

Details

Night of the Felines

Night of the Felines

  • 牝猫たちの夜
    Mesunekotachi no yoru
  • Director: Noboru TANAKA
  • Japan 1972, DCP, 68 min, Japanese with English subtitles
  • With an introduction by Jasper Sharp
  • Friday, May 26, 18:00 Deutsches Filmmuseum

Details

Sada and Kichi (a.k.a. A Woman Called Abe Sada)
Sada and Kichi © 1975 Nikkatsu Corporation

Sada and Kichi (a.k.a. A Woman Called Abe Sada)

  • 実録阿部定
    Jitsuroku: Abe Sada
  • Director: Noboru TANAKA
  • Japan 1975, 35mm, 76 min, Japanese with English subtitles
  • With an introduction by Akihiko SHIOTA
  • Saturday, May 27, 20:00 Deutsches Filmmuseum

Details

The Stroller in the Attic (a.k.a. Watcher in the Attic)
The Stroller in the Attic © 1976 Nikkatsu Corporation

The Stroller in the Attic (a.k.a. Watcher in the Attic)

  • 屋根裏の散歩者
    Yaneura no sanposha
  • Director: Noboru TANAKA
  • Japan 1976, 35mm, 76 min, Japanese with English subtitles
  • With an introduction by Jasper Sharp
  • Sunday, May 28, 18:00 Deutsches Filmmuseum

Details

Tamanoi, Street of Joy (a.k.a. Street of Joy)
Tamanoi, Street of Joy © 1974 Nikkatsu Corporation

Tamanoi, Street of Joy (a.k.a. Street of Joy)

  • 赤線玉の井 ぬけられます
    Akasen Tamanoi: Nukeraremasu
  • Director & script: Tatsumi KUMASHIRO
  • Japan 1974, 35mm, 78 min, Japanese with English subtitles
  • With an introduction by Jasper Sharp
  • Saturday, May 27, 18:00 Deutsches Filmmuseum

Details

Twisted Path of Love
Twisted Path of Love © 1973 Nikkatsu Corporation

Twisted Path of Love

  • 恋人たちは濡れた
    Koibitotachi wa nureta
  • Director: Tatsumi KUMASHIRO
  • Japan 1973, 35mm, 76 min, Japanese with English subtitles
  • With an introduction by Akihiko SHIOTA
  • Friday, May 26, 22:00 Deutsches Filmmuseum

Details

The Woman With Red Hair
The Woman With Red Hair © 1979 Nikkatsu
Corporation

The Woman With Red Hair

  • 赫い髪の女
    Akai kami no onna
  • Director: Tatsumi KUMASHIRO
  • Japan 1979, 35mm, 73 min, Japanese with English subtitles
  • With an introduction by Dimitri Ianni
  • Sunday, May 28, 20:00 Deutsches Filmmuseum

Details

The World of Geisha
The World of Geisha © 1973 Nikkatsu Corporation

The World of Geisha

  • 四畳半襖の裏張り
    Yojohan fusuma no urabari
  • Director & script: Tatsumi KUMASHIRO
  • Japan 1973, 35mm, 72 min, Japanese with English subtitles
  • With an introduction by Akihiko SHIOTA
  • Saturday, May 27, 16:00 Deutsches Filmmuseum

Details