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Directed by Kon Ichikawa

Odd Obsession

1h 47m

Directed by Kon Ichikawa • 1959 • Japan
Starring Ganjiro Nakamura, Machiko Kyo

Kon Ichikawa’s ODD OBSESSION is a strange dark comedy on a then-forbidden subject—impotence, and jealousy as a cure for it. The movie explores the links between love, jealousy, and rage, all from the standpoint of Kenji Kenmochi (Ganjiro Nakamura), the middle-aged husband of the younger Ikuko (Machiko Kyo), who finds her youth intimidating to the point of sexual paralysis. His solution involves introducing his daughter’s lover to Ikuko.

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