Some twenty years ago, following a violent storm, a giant red rock emerged in the rice fields of the Futori family. The islanders concluded this was a divine punishment for the incestuous union between the eldest son, Nekichi (Rentaro Mikuni), and his sorceress sister, Uma (Yasuko Matsui). The island's “Decision-maker” decreed that Nekichi's feet be chained, compelling him to excavate a mud cave to displace the rock. Uma was then forcibly taken as the decision-maker’s concubine. Nekichi's son, Kametaro (Choichiro Kawarasaki), was also suspected of incest with his mentally disabled sister, Toriko (Hideko Okiyama). He was often mocked and ostracized by his peers. He hoped to find an opportunity to escape the island by assisting Kariya (Kazuo Kitamura), a surveyor from the sugar factory, with his island survey work. However, city folk surrendered to the primitive allure. Kariya fell for Toriko, becoming Nekichi's son-in-law and joining the pit crew to excavate mud. This is Shohei Imamura's first colour film, adapted from a theatre play co-written with Keiji Hasebe. Filming in Okinawa and spanned over two years, endured hardships like record-breaking typhoon rains, negative local media coverage, actors falling ill and suffering strokes, alongside delays, production halts, and severe cost overruns, Profound Desires of the Gods garnered numerous awards, standing as a truly free-spirited and unconventional masterpiece. Yet it also left Imamura's production company heavily indebted. He subsequently turned to television documentaries, only returning to feature films in 1979 with the sensational Vengeance Is Mine.
Date and time:
(1) 29/11/2025(Sat) 18:35
(2) 6/12/2025 (Sat) 18:35
Passion Against Obstacles - Prominent films from Japanese New Wave
The emergence of the “Japanese New Wave” marked a change in Japan's film industry in the 1960s—major studios reduced production, independent filmmaking rose, and more artistically radical works were self-produced and distributed. This liberated Japanese cinema enriched its themes and forms, and made it more diverse. Although Ko Nakahira's Crazed Fruit (1956) and Yasuzo Masumura's Kisses (1957) foreshadowed the impending upheaval, it wasn't until 1960, the release of Naked Youth, the industry truly felt the shockwave. A tidal wave of a new generation rolled in. In a present where the future is unclear and moral standards are chaotic, it is time to revisit how cinema has used wisdom and courage to confront adversity, and carve out new paths amidst the chaos.
Honkaz Fung (Curator)
Ticket price:
Regular: HK$120, MCL MAX Members: HK$110, Children / Full-time students / Elderly: HK$100
(1) 23/11/2025 (Sun) 19:50
(2) 7/12/2025 (Sun) 19:40 ^with pre-screening introduction, conducting in Cantonese.
(1) 29/11/2025(Sat) 18:35
(2) 6/12/2025 (Sat) 18:35
(1) 28/11/2025 (Fri) 19:20 *with post-screening sharing, conducting in Cantonese
(2) 5/12/2025 (Fri) 19:50
