Beautiful, interesting, incredible cinema.

See what’s playing
Fruits of Passion
Fruits of Passion
6.5
/10
2,989 Ratings

FRUITS OF PASSION

Les fruits de la passion

Directed by Shûji Terayama
France, Japan, 1981
Drama, Cult, Erotica

Synopsis

In 1920s Shanghai, unbridled lust and excessive excess dominate the sexual life of the rich. The noble Sir Stephen trains his submissive, young lover O in a brothel. Caught in a whirlpool of pleasure, O longs for ever harder and more exciting punishment.

Synopsis

In 1920s Shanghai, unbridled lust and excessive excess dominate the sexual life of the rich. The noble Sir Stephen trains his submissive, young lover O in a brothel. Caught in a whirlpool of pleasure, O longs for ever harder and more exciting punishment.

Our take

Japanese avant-garde filmmaker Shūji Terayama is known for his visually striking and highly provocative works, from which Fruits of Passion is one of the most controversial. Presented at the Directors’ Fortnight in 1981, this is a sexually abrasive and disturbingly powerful tale.