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Nagisa Ōshima

Director

Nagisa Ōshima

Born March 31, 1932 in Okayama, JapanDied January 15, 201340 films

Nagisa Ōshima (大島 渚, Ōshima Nagisa; 31 March 1932 – 15 January 2013) was a Japanese filmmaker, writer, and left-wing activist best known for his fiction feature films, of which he directed 23 in a career spanning from 1959 to 1999.

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He is often regarded as one of the greatest Japanese directors of all time, and as one of the most important figures of the Japanese New Wave, alongside Shōhei Imamura. His filmmaking style bold, innovative and provocative, common themes include youthful rebellion, class and racial discrimination, and taboo sexuality.

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The best way into Nagisa Ōshima's work
Death by Hanging posterFirst watchDeath by Hanging19687.5A Korean man is sentenced to death in Japan but somehow survives his execution, sending the authorities into a panic about what to do next.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence poster7.3Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence1983In the Realm of the Senses poster6.6In the Realm of the Senses1976Empire of Passion poster6.8Empire of Passion1978Taboo poster6.6Taboo1999Boy poster7.2Boy1969Cruel Story of Youth poster6.6Cruel Story of Youth1960

Filmography

40 films as director
  1. 1999TabooDirector
  2. 1995100 Years of Japanese CinemaDirector
  3. 1991Kyoto, My Mother's PlaceDirector
  4. 1986Max My LoveDirector
  5. 1983Merry Christmas, Mr. LawrenceDirector
  6. 1978Empire of PassionDirector
  7. 1977Yokoi and His Twenty-Eight Years of Secret Life on GuamDirector
  8. 1976In the Realm of the SensesDirector
  9. 1976A Life of MaoDirector
  10. 1973Rahman: Father of BengalDirector
  11. 1972The Journey of the Blind MusiciansDirector
  12. 1972Dear Summer SisterDirector
  13. 1972ジョイ！バングラDirector
  14. 1972The GiantsDirector
  15. 1971The CeremonyDirector
  16. 1970The Man Who Left His Will on FilmDirector
  17. 1969BoyDirector
  18. 1969Mao Tse-Tung and the Cultural RevolutionDirector
  19. 1969Diary of a Shinjuku ThiefDirector
  20. 1969Band of Ninja PilotDirector
  21. 1968The Greater East Asian WarDirector
  22. 1968Three Resurrected DrunkardsDirector
  23. 1968Death by HangingDirector
  24. 1967Japanese Summer: Double SuicideDirector
  25. 1967Sing a Song of SexDirector
  26. 1967Band of NinjaDirector
  27. 1966Violence at NoonDirector
  28. 1965Diary of YunbogiDirector
  29. 1965Pleasures of the FleshDirector
  30. 1964A Rebel's FortressDirector
  31. 1964Watashi-wa berettoDirector
  32. 1963The Forgotten Imperial ArmyDirector
  33. 1963Chiisana bōken ryokōDirector
  34. 1962The Christian RevoltDirector
  35. 1961The CatchDirector
  36. 1960Night and Fog in JapanDirector
  37. 1960The Sun's BurialDirector
  38. 1960Cruel Story of YouthDirector
  39. 1959Street of Love and HopeDirector
  40. 1959Tomorrow's SunDirector