The Handmaiden
Kim Tae-ri, Lee Yong-nyeo, Yoo Min-chae
In 1930s Korea, a girl is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress who lives a secluded life on a countryside estate. But the maid has a secret: She is a pickpocket recruited by a swindler to help seduce the Lady and steal her ...
Why you'll love it
A psychological thriller that intertwines themes of sexuality, deception, and love in 1930s Korea and Japan.
Nymphomaniac: Vol. I
Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stellan Skarsgård, Stacy Martin
A self-diagnosed nymphomaniac recounts her erotic experiences to the man who saved her after a beating.
Why you'll love it
While not exclusively set in Japan, it explores sexual themes and relationships that resonate with Japanese cinema's boldness.
In the Realm of the Senses
Tatsuya Fuji, Eiko Matsuda, Aoi Nakajima
A fictionalized retelling of the story of Sada Abe, whose affair with her master quickly turned obsessive and sadomasochistic.
Why you'll love it
A controversial film that explores the boundaries of love and sexuality in post-war Japan.