Odd Obsession

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.