All language subtitles for Etsuraku aka Pleasures of the Flesh (Nagisa Oshima, 1965) Criterion Collection.eng

A SHOCHIKU FILM

Produced by SOZOSHA
Distributed by SHOCHIKU

PLEASURES OF THE FLESH

Produced by
MASAYUKI NAKAJIMA

Based on Pleasures in the Coffin
by FUTARO YAMADA

Cinematography by AKIRA TAKADA
Production Design by YASUTARO KON

Music by JOJI YUASA
Edited by KEIICHI URAOKA

Starring

KATSUO NAKAMURA

MARIKO KAGA

YUMIKO NOGAWA
MASAKO YAGI

HIROKO SHIMIZU
TOSHIKO HIGUCHI

SHOICHI OZAWA
KEI SATO

ROKKO TOURA
FUMIO WATANABE

HOSEI KOMATSU
DAIGO KUSANO

AKIJI KOBAYASHI
MASAHIKO NARUSE

TORU EMORI
AKIRA HAMADA, SHINKO UJIIE

Written and Directed by
NAGISA OSHIMA

Miss Shoko!

"Teacher, please come see me
in my wedding dress. - Shoko."

"Teacher...

please come see me
in my wedding dress."

That's right.

That's the only reason
I came here today.

Six or seven years ago,

when Shoko was starting
high school,

I was a university student
working part-time as her tutor.

That's all it was.

Nothing more.

No, there was more.

I fell in love with Shoko,
and even killed a man for her sake.

Years earlier,

Shoko's family had gone to the country
to escape the summer heat.

Shoko was in second grade.
That man sexually assaulted her then.

More than ten years had passed,
and although she didn't seem

to have forgotten it completely,

she was a well-adjusted
teenage girl.

Yet just when it seemed
the painful memory was behind them,

the criminal reappeared
to try to blackmail her parents.

They couldn't go to the police.

If they gave him money,
he'd just be back for more.

Not knowing what to do,
they turned to me for help.

I was filled with rage.

I took the agreed-upon sum

and went to meet him
at a cheap hotel in Ueno.

He took the money,

but when I said to leave them alone,
he laughed in my face.

He said he was going
back to the country.

I followed him
onto the night train.

Everything's been taken care of.

Thank you.

If anyone asks, we know nothing.

Okay?

Needless to say,

you must never tell Shoko
about any of this.

It isn't much.
Just a token of our gratitude.

What's this?

Why are you here
so early this morning?

Two days after I killed
the man on the train,

a stranger came
to see me in the evening.

Does this ring any bells?

MAN KILLED IN FALL
FROM TRAIN

I was on that train.

I saw what you did.

Don't worry.
I'm not here to arrest you.

TOSHIHIKO HAYAMI
AGRICULTURE MINISTRY

I spent all day yesterday

investigating
everything about you.

I visited your school
and the family for whom you tutor.

You're serious and frugal.
People speak highly of you.

For a year now

I've sought someone like you
with no connection to myself.

You're perfect.

But I can't figure out
why you killed that man.

He was a monster
who deserved to die.

I had to do it
for justice's sake.

I believe you.

Anyway, it makes no difference.

It seems you have no intention
of turning yourself in,

and that's good.

You need to be alive
for what I'm about to ask.

What do you want?

I embezzled 30 million yen
in public funds.

I want you to keep it for me.

If you tell the police,

I'll tell them about your crime,
and we both lose.

I've embezzled
98 million in all.

The way I figure it,

I'll be discovered within six months
and brought to trial.

I've studied the law.
I'll get five years at most.

I'll be in my early 30s then
with 30 million yen.

I could never make that much
as an ordinary bureaucrat.

All the dreams of my youth
are riding on this crime.

My reputation will be destroyed,

but people quickly forget,

and there will be other
corrupt officials to make the news.

I'll soon be forgotten.

That's my story.

So as long as you comply
with my request,

this money will be safe.

And as long as it's safe,
so are you.

Understand?

I assume you agree?

And so that I'll know
where to find you when I get out,

you must go on living here.

And one last thing:

You must never touch this money!

He was found out
two months later.

The following year,

he was sentenced to five years.

It all happened
just as he'd predicted.

I've never been tempted
to touch the money, of course.

Opening that suitcase
would not only ruin my life,

but my crime
would be discovered,

and my beloved Shoko
would be destroyed as well.

But now she's gone off
and married someone else.

In another year that man
will be coming for his money.

I'll just stare at him blankly
as he walks off,

and then I'll return to a life
with no money and nobody to love.

Until the day I die.

It won't even be a tragedy.
It'll be a farce!

Miss Shoko!

What is it?

Didn't you go on your honeymoon?

Didn't your marriage work out?

Or did you realize...

how I feel about you?

No, we mustn't.
It can only lead to trouble.

The world would never allow it.

I doubt I could make you happy,
as poor as I am.

You must know that.

Go back to your husband.

I'd rather die
than go back to him.

Really?

Then there's no other choice.
I'll die with you.

But if we're going to die...

let's run away together
and enjoy the time we have left.

I have 30 million yen.

We're going to die anyway.
Let's just spend it all.

Where did you get so much money?

It's time for this farce to end!

What are you doing?

Do you want to ruin my life?

I can die after a year.

After a year,
when I've spent all this,

it will be an easy way
to take care of everything.

That man never found out

why I committed the murder.

He doesn't know anything about you.

You'll be safe even if I'm dead.

When he gets out of prison...

all he'll find are an empty suitcase...

and my dead body.

The empty suitcase...

will be my coffin.

I have a year to spend 30 million.

On what?

On women.

I'm not cry, cry, crying...

It's just the cocktails

Blue, blue, blue glass

That's reflected in my eyes

I'm suddenly drunk
and it feels so nice

How bittersweet it will be
to wake up tomorrow

Though flowers may
bloom, bloom, bloom

The next day they scatter

Tonight, tonight, tonight

Let's blossom out of season

Tonight, at least,
let's enjoy the pleasures of the flesh

This is for you.

Why?

I like you.

Fine, but...

The truth is...

you look like my girlfriend.

Then why not give it to her?

She got married.

Then why are you giving me
this music box?

You hate her now, don't you?

So you must hate me too.

I do. I want to take out
my revenge on your body.

That's a new one.

I feel sorry for you.

There's 100,000 yen inside.

- What a shame.
- It's all yours.

What an odd man!

Listen, can you come back tomorrow?
I'll get the night off.

This isn't about tomorrow
or the next day.

I'm talking about
a long-term contract.

A long-term contract?

I want to live with you.

- Is this some kind of joke?
- No.

I'll give you 500,000 a month,
to spend as you please.

500,000 yen?

- You're lying.
- I'm not!

But...

how'd you come by so much money?

I won't be in Japan much longer.

I plan to spend all of
my inheritance before I leave.

Where will you go?

France.

How nice! Paris?

No, Marseille.

- Let's dance.
- I don't know how.

So what do you say?
Oui or non?

For a million a month,
the answer's our'.

This is wonderful!

I'm so happy!

Even if it's only for a year.

What a nice bathroom!
I think I'll take a bath.

Care to join me?

Later. You go on.

You sure? All right.

It's your turn now.

That's okay.

- Go on. I'll help you undress.
- I said it's okay.

Not right now.

Yes, right now.

Take your bath first.

You've changed so much
in just two months.

It's only natural.

There are only ten months left.

That's right!

Tell me...

where will you take me tomorrow?

The movies?

A baseball game?
The races?

A boxing match? Bowling?
Golfing? Dancing?

A French restaurant?
Or Chinese?

Tokyo has every kind of food
and entertainment.

It's so much fun.

I don't know
how to thank you for all this.

Have you always
loved perfume so much?

Is there a woman who doesn't?

I don't mind,
but it vanishes as you use it.

So does everything else.

There's nothing like perfume
for burning through money.

I don't mind if you go
over your allowance,

but you'd be better off

setting a little aside
for the future.

It's not in my nature
to save money.

And who are you to lecture me
about wasting money?

- I'm different.
- Why?

You can buy anything
if you have the money.

I have everything I need.

But maybe
I'll have plastic surgery...

to remember you by.

You're lucky...

to be so passionate
about making yourself beautiful.

Whose is this?

Yours.

And this?

Yours.

And this?

Yours.

Wasn't that our agreement?
You've bought every part of me.

I wonder.

You don't think so?

Sometimes it feels
as if you've bought me.

- Now get out.
- What?

I gave you your money.

Listen, Hitomi.

You said some fool was giving you
a million yen a month for a year.

You promised me
at least 300,000 a month

if I left you alone.

You not only broke your promise.
Now you're bossing me around.

- You have to leave him.
- No.

And even if I did,
I'd never come back to you.

I plan to be a fashion model
or star in commercials.

Hitomi...

you've become so beautiful.

It's been so long.

Forget it.

There's a fine bed right here,
and I'm your husband, after all.

I said no!

- What's that?
- Acid.

I brought it just in case
you didn't cooperate.

Lie down.

Close the bottle first!

Hurry up.
He's coming back.

What do I care?
To hell with him!

All right. Leave now.

Oh, I'll leave all right...

but I'll cast a spell
on your face first.

- A spell?
- So you can't leave me.

You said you wanted
to be a model.

You've turned into
such a beautiful woman.

You just might make it.

But that won't do me any good
if you dump me.

What are you doing?

Just a drop or two on your face.

I lost a finger for you.
You owe it to me.

Don't move,
or even more will spill.

Bastard!
You were here all along?

Don't do anything stupid.

Son of a bitch!

I'll throw this in your face.

Go ahead, but leave her alone.

She's a gold mine for you.

You'll lose everything.

I'll let you off this time.

But this could come
flying at you any moment,

so watch out.

Is Miss Hitomi in?

Who are you gentlemen?

We're from Hanawa Enterprises.

Ah, there you are.

The boss wants to see you.
Come with us.

She's under no obligation to go.

Excuse me,
but what are you to Miss Hitomi?

I should be asking you that.

Actually, Miss Hitomi

was our boss's girl.

He was very attached to her.

As a special favor, he gave her
to one of his underlings -

I mean, one of his employees.

But given how close
he was to her,

he feels
some responsibility for her.

I don't want the old man
feeling responsible for me.

The boss will feel responsible
for whomever he wants.

And recently...

there've been
some ugly rumors about you.

The head of the Hanawa gang...

told us to bring you in
on a leash if need be.

Do you refuse?

So the guy without a pinkie
told your boss what happened, huh?

What did he give your boss
for the girl?

A little finger.

- A little finger?
- So the boss says...

that any guy who wants
to set her free

has to give up a little finger
to have her.

What's a little finger cost?

Three million.

It's human flesh, after all.

That's cheap.

But I don't have it here.
Come back tomorrow.

Don't pay them anything.
They'll just come back for more.

I'll pay...

my own debt!

Hitomi!

I'm leaving him now anyway.

Give this to the old man or my ex,

or anybody else who wants it.

Why, why, why did you

Fall in love with me

When you know, know, know
how fleeting a man's love can be?

Is she new around here?

No, she was on vacation.

- Think she'll come with me tonight?
- Come with you?

She's married.

All the better.

Though flowers may
bloom, bloom, bloom

The next day they scatter

Tonight, tonight, tonight

Let's blossom out of season

Please, I have to go
home tonight.

I'll go with you another time.

No, you're coming with us.

Why don't you just give in?

Have fun.

Forgive me.
He's my husband.

I'm sorry.

I told him not to come,
but our child is sick.

Shouldn't you go see?

It's not too serious.

He just came
for money for a doctor.

How old is the child?

Three.
She's in nursery school.

What's wrong with her?

He says she has a fever.
She gets them often.

What does your husband do?

He's had lots of jobs,
but his luck always turns bad.

His employers all went bankrupt.

He's looking after the children now.

I give you a lot of money every month.
Don't you send it to him?

I do...

but I once signed
as guarantor for a friend's debts.

She committed suicide,

and now I have to pay them off.

What's your husband
got going for him?

I'm not sure.
Nothing, I guess.

Haven't you ever thought
about leaving him?

Listen, Shizuko...

I've been giving you
a million a month as promised,

but no more.

I'll pay for groceries
and electricity.

You'll get the rest
when we split up.

What do you say?

Will you stay
even under those terms?

Why are you so cruel to me?

I'm sorry.

Did you give him more?

Forgive me.

You think I didn't know?

Shizuko...

you once asked
why I was so cruel to you.

You look like a girl
who betrayed me,

so when I see you,
I feel like killing you.

You don't believe me?

- But -
- But what?

I don't think
you really hate me.

What?

Or the other woman either.

Shizuko...

you know I'm not like
other men, don't you?

I pay you a million yen a month
to live with me.

I have no job.
All I do is make love to you.

Where do you think
that money's from?

I'm spending
embezzled public funds.

A petty bureaucrat
in the Agriculture Ministry

stole it and left it in my care.
You know why?

He saw me commit murder.
To buy his silence,

I had to guard the money
until he got out of prison.

The man I killed
molested my first love.

I decided to spend the money

only because that woman
married another man.

I'm doing it to spite her -

no, to defy my own absurd fate.

When she gave herself
to another man...

I refused to just
curl up and cry!

POLICE HEADQUARTERS

Is anyone home?

It's my husband.

He'd like to speak to you.

My name is Egi.
Thank you for taking care of my wife.

No, thank you.

This is a very nice house.

Isn't it, honey?

Why are you here?

I'm the one supporting
Shizuko right now.

For all intents and purposes,
I'm her husband,

so please don't act
so intimate with her.

I'm sorry.

I know...

it's selfish to ask this of you...

but could you please
let us have her back?

As you can see,
we have small children,

so I beg you for mercy.

I even brought our children.

Please, for their sake,
grant us this favor.

I trust you.

I told my husband you weren't
such a bad man, but he -

Shizuko, we can't go on like this.
You have to tell him.

I see.

So you know my secret
and want to blackmail me.

But you think
I'm some great villain,

so you tremble
as if facing some monster.

No!

Please forgive us.

Shizuko, we never get a break.

You thought our luck had turned
with that million a month,

but I didn't believe it.
It was too good to be true.

We were born
under an unlucky star.

You're bleeding!

Let's go.

Come on.

Where?

Please come in.

"Shizuko...

you two enjoy being unhappy.

Perversely, you're only happy
when you're miserable.

I want to make you both suffer.

How can I make you
as unhappy as possible?"

- Excuse me.
- Yes?

I'd like to pay that man's bill.

I just quit.

"How can I make you two
as unhappy as possible?

I've concluded the worst thing
I can do to you is make you happy.

The house is yours.

The rest of the money
I promised you is in the desk.

You can live happily
off that for a while.

But eventually you'll grow uneasy
amidst such happiness. "

Why did you quit?

- Because he kissed you?
- Isn't it obvious?

You didn't seem to be resisting.

It's difficult to struggle with a man

who's burning with lust.

I waited for that wave of lust
to pass to slap him.

"That's when you'll fall

Into the true misery
from which there is no escape.

It'll serve you right."

You're not crazy, are you?

Not at all.
Examine me if you wish.

I'm not a psychiatrist.

Well?
Is it yes or no?

I don't have much time.

I'm sorry.

- You refuse?
- That's right.

Of course I do.

Miss Keiko.

Three million yen
in three months -

for someone with no job,

It's certainly tempting.

I could focus on my research.

But I just can't.

I can't give myself to you.
I feel no love for you.

We can just be friends
until you come to love me.

Let's go away
together for a month.

If you don't love me by then,
I'll give up.

I'll pay you for the month anyway.
What do you say?

- Well?
- Well what?

- Feeling better?
- What do you mean?

You looked uneasy.

That's because
I'm in Hokkaido with a stranger.

You can't expect me
not to be uneasy.

How about letting down
your armor?

You've never been
with a man, have you?

Am I wrong?

I don't have to answer
such an insulting question.

Besides, I'm a doctor.
I know all about it.

May I kiss you?

What's going on?
You're burning up!

Will you be okay?

I think it's a cold.

I'll be fine as long as
it doesn't turn into pneumonia.

Are you awake?

How do you feel?

The doctor stopped by yesterday.

I was relieved to hear
you've recovered.

I'm leaving now.

I never dreamt you'd be
sick in bed for three weeks.

It's a month today
since we set out.

I've paid the hotel bill
and medical expenses.

And here's one million yen,
as promised.

I'm really happy you're better.

I was afraid
something might happen,

especially since
I was the reason you got sick.

You haven't spoken to me
since that day,

but I don't blame you.

Wait!

Where will you go?

I've come this far.
I'll push on until the end.

I want to go with you.

Keiko...

try to love me.

Even if you can't love me,
sleep with me just once.

Just once. It doesn't have
to be for three months.

Please. I'll pay.

A million yen for one time.
Two million!

Please, Keiko!

I beg you!

No?

Why not?

I see.

What are you doing?

It's dangerous!

Keiko!

Stop!

It's dangerous!

It's dangerous!

Come back!

Are you trying to kill yourself?

I won't do anything, I swear!

Come back!

Keiko, I'm -

Don't say anything-

Not here.
Not on this trip.

Let's go back to Tokyo
and get married.

Married? But -

One month's already over.
There are only two months left.

You'll be gone after that, right?

That's all right.

We can get divorced then.

Don't be afraid.

I'm all right.

Tell me...

just who are you?

What are you?

I realize now I can't
give myself for the first time

to a man I don't know.

Now you ask me?

I tried to tell you before,
but you wouldn't listen.

Tell me.

No.

- If you don't tell me -
- Lie down.

No.

I'm back.

- What are you doing?
- You're home early.

We're falling into a rut,
aren't we?

It's clear you're repressed.

And with such
a beautiful body, too.

All women are like this.

But I'm content.

Tell me...

what were you
looking for earlier?

Just what kind of man are you?

You've bought me
for a million yen a month,

and in a month you'll be gone.

What kind of fate
is weighing on you?

I know.

We agreed not to talk about that.

May I have some water?

- What's that girl's name?
- Mari.

She's mute and a little crazy,
but she's nice, isn't she?

- You'll need something.
- What?

Don't you want to know who I am?

I finally got out.
Why did you move?

I didn't.

I still have my old room.
This is temporary.

Please hand it over.

Did you take good care of it?

Oh, that...

Heaven forbid you lost it.

Did you spend it?
Well, did you?

What did you do with it?
Answer me.

Answer me!

I spent it.

You what?

Did you think I'd let that pass?
Did you think I'd just go away

and not turn you in?

Forgive me.

I planned to kill myself
before you got out.

Then die now!

Have you come to?

Someone saw you
and called the police.

A few minutes more
and you'd have died.

Artificial respiration didn't work.

I had to suck
the muddy water out of you.

You promised
to divorce me in a month,

but I want a divorce now.

You know why better than anyone.

You're disgusting.

This is what you were
looking for the other day,

isn't it?

Welcome back.

I'd like that girl again.

- Today's not good.
- Why not?

Does he mean Mari?
You can tell him.

That man had entrusted
Mari to my care.

He's a local gangster.

He was in prison
for nearly killing a man.

I see.
And Mari belongs to him?

That's right.
His name is Kudo.

Mr. Kudo, would you
let me have Mari?

What?

I'd like to live with her
for a while.

Son of a bitch!

I didn't mean for free.
I'll pay.

Bastard!

You lookin' to die?

- How's a million a month?
- A million?

You think I'm a fool?

Just for a month.

Go to hell!

Here's a deposit.

I'll take her now.

There's no hurry, Mari.

We'll be living together
for a while.

Understand?

Thing is...

I've only got a month to live.

Understand?

You don't, do you?

That's okay.

You don't have to.
Better if you don't.

All I ask...

is that for the month I have left...

you let me drown myself in you.

Mari, where did you go?

Shoko!

Mari, have you been out
looking for customers?

Beat it!

I may have sold her to you,

but I can't help it
if she came back.

She's got streetwalking
in her bones.

Right?

It's the only thing
that makes her happy.

How about 100,000 each time?

I'll come back every day.

Hey, boss...

I'm out of my league.

I'm giving Mari to you.

No, I prefer to pay.

Don't be mad!

Forgive me.

I want to learn from you.

Learn from me?

And I need your help.

I'd rather not discuss it in public.

He stashed away 30 million yen
before going to jail.

Some guy is keeping it for him.

I've looked everywhere
but can't find him.

I went to his place,

but the landlords
didn't know where he was.

Seemed fishy to me.

I didn't believe them.

I watched the place for a few days,
but no sign of him.

And with the cops
still watching me,

I can't be too obvious
about what I'm doing.

I've got buddies around,
but none I can trust.

If I say anything,
everyone will find out.

I've had my eye on you.
I think I can trust you.

What do I have to do?

Go and watch his place.

If you recover the 30 million,

you can keep five million.

I know you don't
really need the dough...

so I'll throw in Mari for free.

Who told you about all this?

Tell me.

Why do you want to know?

Tell me.

Here's 200,000.
It's all that's left.

All that's left'?

I heard about it in jail.

In jail? From whom?

The guy who hid the money,
some official named Hayami.

He told me about it
just before he died.

Hayami... is dead?

Yeah. Right before
I was released,

he caught a cold
that turned into pneumonia,

and he died from it.

Stupid son of a bitch!

He hid that 30 million
so carefully,

but no one ever
brought him anything.

Mari was always
bringing me stuff.

He wanted some of my candy,
so he told me everything.

Of course, he didn't know
he was going to die.

What's the matter, boss?

I was the one
keeping the 30 million!

I'm Atsushi Wakizaka.

What about the 30 million?

I just gave you the last of it!
There's nothing left!

Son of a bitch!
You trying to make a fool of me?

Go to hell!

Help!

So now you're shaking, huh?

If you want help,
give me the 30 million!

I told you the truth.

- It's all gone.
- All gone?

Bullshit! You couldn't spend
that much in five years.

I spent it in one year!
I spent it all this past year!

Cocky son of a bitch!
You know how much that is a month?

I heard you killed a man.

Now it's your turn.

Get ready to die!

Mari?

Mari, he's a bad man.

He killed a man and spent
30 million yen that wasn't his.

If I go to the police,
he'll hang.

Whatever he gave you,
you don't owe him anything.

He made fools of us!

The bastard spent all the money
I was supposed to get!

No, give it back!

What are you doing?

Do you love him?

Shoko!

Sorry to barge in.

What are you doing here?

I wondered
if I'd still find you here.

I was a bit worried
you might have moved.

Why?

It seems you became very rich.

Me, rich?

Actually, I saw you a few times

after I got married,

but you were always
with beautiful women,

so I was afraid to say hello.

You seemed
so different from before.

I hope you don't mind,

but since it seemed a bit odd,

I called the ad agency
where you used to work.

They told me you had quit.

Teacher, how did you make
so much money?

The stock market?

An inheritance?

Yet you're still living
in a place like this.

Shoko, why are you here?

Teacher...

would you do me a favor?

Anything.

When it dawned upon me,

I almost cried out
in thanks to the gods.

When what dawned upon you?

That you might have become rich.

What does my wealth
have to do with you?

You're far richer than I am.

Your husband owns
a famous cosmetics company.

The thing is...

we're on the brink of bankruptcy.

We need money
by the end of the month,

or our checks will bounce.

My husband's frantic,

and I'm doing everything I can
to find some money.

You have no money?

No!

If you have any,
would you lend me some?

Ten million, five million.
Even two or three.

Even 300,000 would help.

Please!

I had 30 million.

Thirty million?

But there isn't a yen left.

You're lying!
Don't lie to me!

I'm not.
I really had it.

It can't be true.

Don't tease me like this.

Please lend me some.

I'll do anything you say.
Anything!

There isn't a yen left.

I spent it all in one year.

Really?

Where did you get it?

I was keeping it for someone.

You remember
about five years ago,

an official named Hayami
embezzled almost 100 million?

He hid 30 million with me.

But why?

So he'd have it
when he got out of prison.

He blackmailed me.
He knew I'd killed a man.

He knew the secret
that could destroy me.

Killed a man?

You killed a man?

Why? Who?

And why did you spend
all that money?

You killed a man?

Why? Who?

Shoko, I did it for you.

It was the man who molested you.

And why did you spend
all that money?

Because you'd married
another man.

Atsushi Wakizaka?

You're under arrest for murder.

Murder?
You mean last night?

You killed someone
last night too?

We'll look into that later.

You're under arrest for a murder
committed five years ago,

and for being an accessory
to embezzlement.

What are you doing?
Spit it out!

Tell me:
Who turned me in?

A woman?
Tell me, or I'll swallow.

Just don't play dumb later.

It was a woman
you've known for ten years.

Understand now?

Shoko...

THE END

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