Fascination: Portrait of a Lady
Encyclopedia
is a 1977 Japan
ese film in Nikkatsu
's Roman porno series, directed by Kōyū Ohara
and starring Naomi Tani
. Known for an ability to direct well in many genres, it was the pop-art-influenced Ohara's first true S&M film.
had directed films at Nikkatsu in various genres, in his experimental, pop-art influenced style, earning him the nickname "King of Pop Art Porn". Though he had included some SM themes in earlier films, Fascination: Portrait of a Lady was his first true SM film. The script was written by Naomi Tani
's frequent collaborator, the noted SM-author Oniroku Dan
.
Of his intent in the film, Ohara said, "It represents Japanese stylistic elegance. Needless to say, Naomi Tani's beauty is an integral part of the film, but I totally devoted myself to capturing Dan's luxurious S&M world through art... by placing small art objects throughout the film."
gives a typically excellent performance in the film. He writes that the scene in which Tani proudly displays her new rope tattoo is "both heartbreaking and liberating". "Just with her eyes", Lewis writes, "she conveys all the sadness/excitement and horror/delight of a woman caught in an emotional and sexual whirlwind. Of director Ohara's work, Lewis comments, "Overall, the film looks great. The lighting, widescreen compositions, and editing are all pretension free, but artistic nonetheless. With this first SM film, Ohara had already revealed himself to be a master filmmaker as well as a master pervert."
In their Japanese Cinema Encyclopedia: The Sex Films, the Weissers write, "This movie still enjoys all the Ohara idiosyncrasies, solidifying his reputation as the king of pink pop-art."
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese film in Nikkatsu
Nikkatsu
is a Japanese entertainment company well known for its film and television productions. It is Japan's oldest major movie studio. The name Nikkatsu is an abbreviation of Nippon Katsudō Shashin, literally "Japan Cinematograph Company".-History:...
's Roman porno series, directed by Kōyū Ohara
Koyu Ohara
is a Japanese film director best known known for his popular Roman Porno films, Fairy in a Cage and the Pink Tush Girl series...
and starring Naomi Tani
Naomi Tani
is a Japanese actress who is best known for her appearances in Nikkatsu's Roman Porno films with an S&M theme during the 1970s.-Early career:Born October 20, 1948, in the Hakata ward of Fukuoka, Naomi Tani moved to Tokyo at the age of 18. After arrival in Tokyo, she was featured in a photo layout...
. Known for an ability to direct well in many genres, it was the pop-art-influenced Ohara's first true S&M film.
Synopsis
Hisako is the sexually-frustrated wife of the older art academy Professor Ōuchi. Ōuchi is a repressed conservative who disdains modern art, and expels Kazuo, a student who specializes in SM painting. Hisako becomes obsessed with the expelled student, and has an affair with him. Kazuo and Hisako retire to a cabin in the countryside where they indulge in SM activities.Cast
- Naomi TaniNaomi Taniis a Japanese actress who is best known for her appearances in Nikkatsu's Roman Porno films with an S&M theme during the 1970s.-Early career:Born October 20, 1948, in the Hakata ward of Fukuoka, Naomi Tani moved to Tokyo at the age of 18. After arrival in Tokyo, she was featured in a photo layout...
: Hisako Ōuchi - Minoru Ōkochi: Professor Ōuchi
- Tachiki Bessho: Kazuo Kobayashi
- Yūko Asuka: Akemi
- Eisuke Izumi: Shimoda
Background
Director Kōyū OharaKoyu Ohara
is a Japanese film director best known known for his popular Roman Porno films, Fairy in a Cage and the Pink Tush Girl series...
had directed films at Nikkatsu in various genres, in his experimental, pop-art influenced style, earning him the nickname "King of Pop Art Porn". Though he had included some SM themes in earlier films, Fascination: Portrait of a Lady was his first true SM film. The script was written by Naomi Tani
Naomi Tani
is a Japanese actress who is best known for her appearances in Nikkatsu's Roman Porno films with an S&M theme during the 1970s.-Early career:Born October 20, 1948, in the Hakata ward of Fukuoka, Naomi Tani moved to Tokyo at the age of 18. After arrival in Tokyo, she was featured in a photo layout...
's frequent collaborator, the noted SM-author Oniroku Dan
Oniroku Dan
was a Japanese author who had been called, "the most celebrated writer of popular SM novels in Japan." Many of his stories have been filmed, most notably by Nikkatsu studio in their Roman Porno series. Dan had a close professional association with actress Naomi Tani throughout her career...
.
Of his intent in the film, Ohara said, "It represents Japanese stylistic elegance. Needless to say, Naomi Tani's beauty is an integral part of the film, but I totally devoted myself to capturing Dan's luxurious S&M world through art... by placing small art objects throughout the film."
Critical appraisal
In his article "The Films of Koyu Ohara", Graham Lewis notes that Naomi TaniNaomi Tani
is a Japanese actress who is best known for her appearances in Nikkatsu's Roman Porno films with an S&M theme during the 1970s.-Early career:Born October 20, 1948, in the Hakata ward of Fukuoka, Naomi Tani moved to Tokyo at the age of 18. After arrival in Tokyo, she was featured in a photo layout...
gives a typically excellent performance in the film. He writes that the scene in which Tani proudly displays her new rope tattoo is "both heartbreaking and liberating". "Just with her eyes", Lewis writes, "she conveys all the sadness/excitement and horror/delight of a woman caught in an emotional and sexual whirlwind. Of director Ohara's work, Lewis comments, "Overall, the film looks great. The lighting, widescreen compositions, and editing are all pretension free, but artistic nonetheless. With this first SM film, Ohara had already revealed himself to be a master filmmaker as well as a master pervert."
In their Japanese Cinema Encyclopedia: The Sex Films, the Weissers write, "This movie still enjoys all the Ohara idiosyncrasies, solidifying his reputation as the king of pink pop-art."
Availability
Fascination: Portrait of a Lady was re-released on DVD in Japan on March 21, 2007, as part of Geneon's seventh wave of Nikkatsu Roman porno series.English
- Lewis, Graham R. "The Films of Koyu Ohara" in Asian Cult Cinema, #27 (2nd quarter 2000), p. 24–29.