Taboo
御法度
“How am I insane?”
Synopsis
Set during Japan's Shogun era, this film looks at life in a samurai compound where young warriors are trained in swordfighting. A number of interpersonal conflicts are brewing in the training room, all centering on a handsome young samurai named Sozaburo Kano. The school's stern master can choose to intervene, or to let Kano decide his own path.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2012-01-25
Top Cast
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Takeshi Kitano
Toshizo Hijikata
Ryuhei Matsuda
Sozaburo Kano
Tadanobu Asano
Hyozo Tashiro
Yōichi Sai
Isami Kondo
Shinji Takeda
Okita Sōji
Susumu Terajima
Spy
Tomorowo Taguchi
Samurai Tojiro Yuzawa
Yoji Tanaka
Samurai executed by Kanô
Kei Satō
Narrator (voice)
Jiro Sakagami
Eve Masatoh
Yoshiaki Fujiwara
Kenichi Urata
Shun Sugata
Yuji Yamazaki
Usaburo Oshima
Takashi Odajima
Uno Kanda
Release History & Theatrical Window
Toronto International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
October 6, 2000
Wide Cinema Exhibition
August 3, 2002
Physical Home Media
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Nagisa Ōshima
- Screenplay & Story
- Nagisa Ōshima
- Original Score
- Ryuichi Sakamoto
- Original Title
- 御法度
- Country of Origin
- Japan, France, United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- Japanese
- Runtime
- 1h 40m
- Production Studios
- Oshima Productions, Shochiku, KADOKAWA Shoten, IMAGICA, BS Asahi, Eisei Gekijo, Bac Films, Le Studio Canal+, Recorded Picture Company
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Nagisa Ōshima
Nagisa Ōshima, Ryōtarō Shiba
Ryuichi Sakamoto
Toyomichi Kurita
Tomoyo Oshima
Nobuyoshi Otani, Jean Labadie, Jeremy Thomas, Shigehiro Nakagawa, Eiko Oshima
Department Leadership Roster
Nagisa Ōshima
Director
Toyomichi Kurita
Director of Photography
Shigehiro Nakagawa
Producer
Eiko Oshima
Producer
Kazuo Shimizu
Producer
Tomoyo Oshima
Editor
Yoshinobu Nishioka
Production Design
Emi Wada
Costume Design
Nagisa Ōshima
Screenplay
Ryuichi Sakamoto
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Taboo.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Taboo.
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (All editions 2003-2024). A cumulative list including films subsequently removed in later editions. Totaling 1,260 films as of Nov 2024. 《1001部死前必看的电影》（2003-2024 全版本累积版）： 包含自2003年首版至2024年11月德语版修订的所有影片。即使在后期版本中被剔除的电影也予以保留。 *注：榜单源数据中包含部分剧集/迷你剧，由于本片单只收录纯电影，故不再收录以下非电影条目：* • [#019] Lovers Rock (2020) • [#418] Dekalog (1989) *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:40:36 UTC+8)*
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Frequently Asked Questions About Taboo
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Taboo about?
Set during Japan's Shogun era, this film looks at life in a samurai compound where young warriors are trained in swordfighting. A number of interpersonal conflicts are brewing in the training room, all centering on a handsome young samurai named Sozaburo Kano. The school's stern master can choose to intervene, or to let Kano decide his own path.
Who directed Taboo?
Taboo was directed by Nagisa Ōshima.
Who stars in Taboo?
The principal cast of Taboo includes Takeshi Kitano, Ryuhei Matsuda, Tadanobu Asano, Yōichi Sai, Shinji Takeda.
When was Taboo released and how long is it?
Taboo was released in 1999 with a total runtime of 1h 40m.
Who composed the musical score for Taboo?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Taboo was composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto.
Is Taboo based on a book or true story?
Taboo is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Ryōtarō Shiba".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Taboo?
Taboo holds official age classifications: CA: 14A; GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).