A still from controversial film, “Ai no Uzu”.
Controversial film, Ai no Uzu [Love’s Whirlpool], has apparently been a hit with female viewers. The film’s theme? — an orgy.
The film, adapted by playwright Miura Daisuke, features scenes of group sex at a mansion, and boasts that the characters are “clothed only for 18 minutes”. It appears that women were drawn to the film precisely because it differs from the time-honoured Hollywood romance in its animalistic depiction of sex.
But netizens are shocked by the news, claiming that this level of female interest in such a film is abnormal, while others point out that if it is true that women are responding positively to the film, then they have no right to criticize men for watching pornography…
From Yahoo News:
Women Flock To See Topical ‘Sex Movie’. We Bring You Their Post-Viewing Impressions
Ai no Uzu, the huge hit currently playing in theatres that carries the shocking tag-line, “Clothed for only 18 minutes”. The theme of the movie is essentially a ‘sexual orgy’, and was adapted by Miura Daisuke, the genius of the theatrical world, from his play of the same name that won him a prize at The Prix Kishida Kunio in 2006.
It’s a group performance that blends the ‘human’ emotions of the men and women who are gathered in the room of some mansion and who, ‘just wanna have sex’
By no means a pornographic feature, the movie is certainly a huge success – with theatres so packed on its opening day that some audience members were left standing despite ‘picking and choosing guests’. It’s also strange that there were many young women in the audience. In actual fact, if you try to go to the Theatre Shinjuku, you will find the cinema nearly full even on say, a weekday evening. One out of every three customers is a woman, and there is no shortage of people seeing the movie alone either. We had a go at speaking to those women directly.
“I came because I was curious about the term ‘group sex’. I was thinking it would be something that depicted abnormal sex with a kind of recklessness and abandon, but it wasn’t like that. Although the setting of the human exchanges is different, the exchanges themselves don’t change. I guess even though they are in this chaotic vacuum, they are no different to people in normal situations; somehow it’s a relief. It’s like everyone, me included, thinks of sex as something special, but perhaps that’s actually the case. Doing it is primeval, animalistic, and I thought as I was watching, isn’t it essentially just a part of daily life?” (21 years old, female university student)
Having an extreme interest in sex while appearing meek and mild – she seemed exactly like the heroine played by Mugi Kadowaki in the movie. And then, she suddenly changed, in the manner of a beautiful young woman who is just a little showy.
“I was worried that if I came alone, wouldn’t I be looked at strangely? But I still came (haha). If this was an orgy set in, say, America, it would have a bit of a sporty feeling, like they would say, ‘let’s do it,’ with no tact or strategy. However, it’s good that the unique sense of space and timing that Japanese people have is portrayed properly, as well as feelings of love and envy. If there are both people who just want to do it, as well as people who fall in love after doing it, I think it will be taken as the true meaning of love, rather than a crappy romance movie.” (25 years old, fashion industry)
Although she has seen various romance movies, she was really fed up with the same conventional plots, such as incurable illnesses and memory loss. But she said she likes romantic movies, so she ‘took the plunge’, so to speak, in choosing this movie.
“For me, who is only just finding out their existential worth by being pursued by somebody, I feel that I couldn’t bear being treated as leftovers at an orgy. No matter how small the environment, for instance even at a ‘dating party’, I thought, I want to be the chosen girl. I don’t really understand it but, when I finished watching, I really wanted to sleep with the guys, I had this intense desire to touch them. The guys, perhaps I should say people, became very loveable.” (29 years old, public servant)
The person who told us this was a ‘troubled woman’ who resembled the actress Kumiko Asou. When her career and personal relationships weren’t going well, she would regain her energy by casually having sex with someone.
What the women who came to see Ai no Uzu have in common is not that they are oversexed women or even that they have unfulfilled desires, but that they are facing sex with their true selves. At the end, we want to finish with a message for these women from the director of this work, Daisuke Miura.
“Isn’t it good to have an R-18 rated entertainment movie that isn’t erotic and grotesque? With that in mind I made Ai no Uzu. I would like it if women who normally turn down this kind of movie watch it in particular. I want to see normal office ladies saying ‘I went to see Ai no Uzu!’ on their girl’s night out.” (Some film info omitted)
Comments from Yahoo News:
大和魂
What is the world coming to?
Are inferior morals spreading from our neighboring countries?
yoy*****
Is it a Korean movie? Ah, I knew it! And this Idutsu guy is a film director?
アルカディア (in response to above)
Um, but it says Daisuke Miura?
ohp*****
“When her career and personal relationships weren’t going well, she would regain her energy by casually having sex with someone.”
She seems completely dependent…
I think it’s at the point where she needs to go straight to a hospital.
you*****
Of course this means they don’t have any right to criticize guys who watch porn.
twx*****
Somehow it feels kinda gross. It’s certainly not leaving a good impression.
neconuco
It’s an ordinary love…Are they idiots?
No matter how many pretty things these people say, at the end of the day, it’s sex.Trying to compare this strange set-up to ordinary life, I just think they’ve gone too far. They must be so depraved.
This kind of movie is not about daily life! I mean, if you don’t properly define it in your head…Because ‘promiscuity’ is not normal w
mom*****
It’s one of those movies that normally film buffs would go and see. It’s rare to see that many female viewers, right?
dai*****
Those who haven’t done it before should stop going on and on about it.
sup*****
The actors are almost all attractive men and women so it looks good.
nor*****
>>“It’s like everyone, me included, thinks of sex as something special, but perhaps that’s actually the case. Doing it is primeval, animalistic, and I thought as I was watching, isn’t it essentially just a part of daily life?”
So, if a complete stranger says to you, ‘let me fuck you’, would you let them?
I doubt it.
Come on, if you got yourself in that situation you definitely wouldn’t let them fuck you, right?
tam*****
Reading this article was the first time I had even heard about this movie…Yet it’s supposed to be such a contentious topic? (haha)
nan*****
Humans are still animals…
mat*****
I think it’s abnormal.
It symbolizes and promotes the corruption of sexual morality and the spread of STDs.
hay*****
I wonder if this kind of ‘promiscuity’ means that you can’t turn down someone who isn’t your type?
If so then it would be impossible for me.
