Product Details

• Actors: Machiko Kyô, Ganjirô Nakamura, Junko Kano, Tatsuya Nakadai, Jun Hamamura
• Directors: Kon Ichikawa
• Writers: Kon Ichikawa, Junichirô Tanizaki, Keiji Hasebe, Natto Wada
• Producers: Hiroaki Fujii, Masaichi Nagata
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Subtitles: English
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Homevision
• VHS Release Date: June 20, 2000
• Run Time: 107 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0780020529
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #319,642 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Winner of Cannes' Special Jury Prize, Odd Obsession is one of acclaimed director Kon Ichikawa's (Tokyo Olympiad, The Burmese Harp) greatest works. This captivating blend of comic satire and drama follows an elderly man's attempts to satisfy his younger wife (Machiko Kyo, Rashomon, Gate of Hell). When "potency" injections fail, Mr. Kenmochi incites his own jealousy by orchestrating an affair between his wife and his doctor, who happens to be his daughter's fiance. The wife and doctor are eager to oblige Kenmochi, his daughter is furious, and the scheme proves both a success and a deadly disaster. With dazzling imagery, rich irony, and superb acting, Odd Obsession illuminates the ongoing battle between personal desire and societal convention.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Watch at least twice, February 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Odd Obsession [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is a very good film Kon Ichikawa based on the famous novel in Japan. ("Kagi" by Jun-ichiro Tanizaki.) The story is about odd relationships with old connoisseur of classic arts, his faithful and attractive wife, his daughter and daughter's fiancé. Basically, Ichikawa's films are visually very artistic and enjoyable. (Another examples, Actor's revenge, Tokyo Olympiad) Combinations of beautiful cinema photography with very weird characters are so impressive. Since this film is so visually artistic, if you have to depend on subtitles you will miss a lot of great artistic atmosphere. (Probably, that's why critics did not give great reviews for Ichikawa's films.) To enjoy the film you have watch it at least twice. Don't try to understand at once. First time, read subtitles to understand the concept of the story. Second time, ignore subtitles as much as possible and enjoy the beautiful cinema photography and story. If you watch it more, it will be better. One critical point of this VIDEO (not film), subtitles are missing in very very important scene of the movie. But still enjoyable.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Be careful what you wish for . . . ., October 15, 2005

By 

Bomojaz (South Central PA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Odd Obsession [VHS] (VHS Tape)

One of Ichikawa's first films, marred by a bad ending. Four characters are involved in a strange menage-a-quatre: an aging man who has high blood pressure and is worried about his virility; his dutiful wife; a young doctor he "uses" as an aprodisiac; and his daughter who becomes jealous of her mother.

The old man decides that seeing his wife dally with another man (the doctor) excites him, makes him feel younger; he talks her into continuing her philandering while he looks on. This "excitement" eventually kills him, but in the meantime his wife has come to enjoy her affair with the doctor and is not upset at her husband's death. Her daughter learns of the arrangement and becomes upset and jealous of her mother; this does little to alter her mother's behavior, however. At the end of the movie a maid suspects their wickedness and poisons all three of them - only the police don't believe her story and chalk it up as a triple suicide.

It's an interesting idea, and Ichikawa develops the ironies nicely. The fact that the mother, while at first acquiesing to her husbands wishes, discovers a hidden passionate need that she refuses to give up, is an idea much ahead of its time. We like to point fingers of blame but it's impossible here because all are just acting on natural impulses. The only misstep is the ending, which I found to be a letdown and somewhat unbelievable. The subtitles are sometimes confusing, bit it's a good movie; worth a watch.