Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this video, I take a look at The Ceremony (1971), directed by Nagisa Oshima, released by Radiance Films as part of their Radical Japan set — Spine #149.
The Ceremony is one of Oshima’s most complex and politically charged works — a biting, satirical dissection of post-war Japanese society told through a series of increasingly absurd and unsettling family gatherings. Using ritual, repetition, and social performance as his framework, Oshima critiques tradition, authority, nationalism, and generational trauma with icy precision.
As part of Radiance’s Radical Japan box set, this release brings the film to Blu-ray with a strong restoration and contextual supplements that help unpack its layered symbolism and historical weight.
In this review, I explore:
🔹 Oshima’s political commentary
🔹 The film’s structure and formal experimentation
🔹 Its place within Japanese New Wave cinema
🔹 How it fits within the Radical Japan collection
🔹 The presentation quality of Radiance’s release
🔗 Where to Buy
📀 Radiance Films: radiancefilms.co.uk
📀 Amazon: amzn.to/467y5WC
📀 About the Film
Set against decades of Japanese history, The Ceremony follows a wealthy family whose rigid adherence to tradition masks deep moral corruption and political hypocrisy. Each ceremony becomes more grotesque and revealing, exposing the hollow rituals underpinning power structures.
Oshima’s direction is cold, deliberate, and confrontational — making this one of the defining works of 1970s political cinema.
This release is essential for:
✔ Fans of Japanese New Wave
✔ Collectors of Radiance Films
✔ Admirers of Nagisa Oshima’s filmography
✔ Viewers interested in politically radical cinema
✔ Boutique Blu-ray and physical media collectors
🙌 Support Man v Film
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patreon.com/manvfilm
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👍 Enjoyed the Video?
💬 Where do you rank The Ceremony within Oshima’s body of work?
💬 Is Radical Japan one of Radiance’s strongest box sets so far?
🔁 Like, Share & Subscribe to support the channel.
⚖️ Fair Use Disclaimer
“Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.”
In this video, I take a look at The Ceremony (1971), directed by Nagisa Oshima, released by Radiance Films as part of their Radical Japan set — Spine #149.
The Ceremony is one of Oshima’s most complex and politically charged works — a biting, satirical dissection of post-war Japanese society told through a series of increasingly absurd and unsettling family gatherings. Using ritual, repetition, and social performance as his framework, Oshima critiques tradition, authority, nationalism, and generational trauma with icy precision.
As part of Radiance’s Radical Japan box set, this release brings the film to Blu-ray with a strong restoration and contextual supplements that help unpack its layered symbolism and historical weight.
In this review, I explore:
🔹 Oshima’s political commentary
🔹 The film’s structure and formal experimentation
🔹 Its place within Japanese New Wave cinema
🔹 How it fits within the Radical Japan collection
🔹 The presentation quality of Radiance’s release
🔗 Where to Buy
📀 Radiance Films: radiancefilms.co.uk
📀 Amazon: amzn.to/467y5WC
📀 About the Film
Set against decades of Japanese history, The Ceremony follows a wealthy family whose rigid adherence to tradition masks deep moral corruption and political hypocrisy. Each ceremony becomes more grotesque and revealing, exposing the hollow rituals underpinning power structures.
Oshima’s direction is cold, deliberate, and confrontational — making this one of the defining works of 1970s political cinema.
This release is essential for:
✔ Fans of Japanese New Wave
✔ Collectors of Radiance Films
✔ Admirers of Nagisa Oshima’s filmography
✔ Viewers interested in politically radical cinema
✔ Boutique Blu-ray and physical media collectors
🙌 Support Man v Film
🔹 Join this channel for exclusive perks:
youtube.com/channel/UCpMZc4FLgNug2j3qWi2FaNg/join
🔹 Prefer Patreon? Join for just £1 / $1 / €1:
patreon.com/manvfilm
🌐 Let’s Connect!
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/MANvFILM
🐦 Twitter: twitter.com/Grahamdoh
📸 Instagram: instagram.com/manvfilm
▶️ Subscribe:
youtube.com/channel/UCpMZc4FLgNug2j3qWi2FaNg?sub_confirmation=1
👍 Enjoyed the Video?
💬 Where do you rank The Ceremony within Oshima’s body of work?
💬 Is Radical Japan one of Radiance’s strongest box sets so far?
🔁 Like, Share & Subscribe to support the channel.
⚖️ Fair Use Disclaimer
“Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.”
