Extreme Private Eros

Extreme Private Eros is a pioneer documentary film from 1974, directed by Kazuo Hara, starring Hara himself, along with Miyuki Takeda and Sachiko Kobayashi. This Japanese production stands an assertive filmic document exhibiting the raw, perplexing yet humane parts of human relationships and gender subject matter, presenting a frank portrait of post-war Japan and its cultural transformation.

Kazuo Hara takes lead role showcasing the life of his ex-wife, Miyuki Takeda – a non-traditional, non-conformist, independent feminist woman who transgressed societal norms, convention and expectations in late 20th century Japan. Her actions and aspirations, as depicted in the movie, challenged traditional gender roles and societal expectations around marriage, motherhood, and sexuality.

All through the vision of Hara's lens, the movie follows Takeda's life, from their mutual separation, her migration to Okinawa, her ensuing relationships, to her ultimate decision to become a single mother. This liberal stride to retain her independence even as a mother marks the basic essence of the narrative.

Extreme Private Eros presents an unfiltered look at these personal extremes and cultural paradigm shifts through real-life incidents, gritty yet tender encounters, and eccentric exploits. The viewer is taken on a journey where the boundaries between the film-maker and his subject are blurred.

In the movie, Sachiko Kobayashi plays a pivotal character that's introduced as a friend of Miyuki. She provides another unique framework from her perspective interacting with Miyuki and Hara, and her eventually journeying towards her own self-discovery.

The film is shot in a vérité style, which is characteristic of Hara's work. It quietly capitalizes on the personal, interpersonal, social fabric of the 70s - with the Vietnam War and social upheaval as backdrop, and the consequent shifts in values and norms.

The function of Extreme Private Eros doesn't lie just in its narrative spectacle but rather in its honesty to represent the personal as political. The camera becomes an intrinsic part of this personal drama, while addressing the surreptitious movements of Japan's social history of the time.

On many levels, Extreme Private Eros was ahead of its time dealing with issues of gender, sexuality, feminism, and personal independence. One significant achievement of the movie lies in the candor with which these delicate matters are handled providing a more truthful, complex understanding of these issues rather than making it cliched or one dimensional.

Hara portrays his subject Miyuki with harsh honesty, never shying away from the challenging and even uncomfortable aspects of her life. Yet many viewers may find themselves empathising with her through the raw emotions that the film a reproduces.

This personal drama unfolds without a script, with no protective walls between the creator's life, the created art and the viewer. The introspective blending of the personal and the public, the individual and the societal, the real and the reel breaks away from the traditional documentary form.

Through its stark narrative and organic storytelling, Extreme Private Eros shakes up the viewer making them reflect on their own beliefs and relationships. The film straddles the complex terrain of love, loss, longing, identity, and freedom.

Extreme Private Eros might shock, surprise, perplex, or even confuse, but it surely will not leave a viewer indifferent. It invites the viewer to be more than just a distant observer; it urges them to delve into the story and question their own perception and beliefs about society, relationships, and human behavior.

This film provides a mirror to our own existence, making us question and reflect on our own narratives and lived experiences. It is a fascinating piece that transcends the boundary of art and life, deeply embedded in the soils of its time and place yet universally resonant with the human existential journey. In essence, Extreme Private Eros is not just a testament of its time, but continues to reverberate intensely within our contemporary lives.