You are here:

An Obsession

Name: An Obsession
Director: Shinji Aoyama
Released: 1997
Duration: 109 min

Representation Score

6.0/10

Fair

1997

Director

Shinji Aoyama

Runtime

109 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

An Obsession is a gritty crime drama that prioritizes existential themes over demographic diversity. It excels in deconstructing social and institutional structures, offering a sophisticated critique of the state and the nuclear family. However, the film remains limited in its representation of underrepresented groups. The narrative is centered on a singular male experience, often relegating other identities to the periphery or using them as plot devices. Ultimately, the work finds its progressive value in its refusal to offer a redemptive arc, instead presenting a relativistic view of a corrupt and indifferent reality.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does An Obsession have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film examines urban alienation and a crisis of masculinity without explicitly addressing LGBTQ+ identities. While it questions the stability of heterosexual relationships through the protagonist's social isolation, it doesn't include clear representations of LGBTQ+ characters.

How does An Obsession portray gender?

Fair

The story heavily emphasizes the breakdown of traditional masculine roles. Women frequently serve as catalysts for the protagonist's crisis rather than being portrayed as independent agents within the narrative.

How racially and ethnically diverse is An Obsession?

Limited

Set in a specific Japanese context, the film features a relatively uniform cast. It focuses more on class-based alienation and urban psychological states than on diverse racial experiences.

How does An Obsession represent religion and culture?

Good

The film presents a cynical view of institutional stability and professional duties, favoring moral relativism and existential nihilism over traditional religious or singular moral frameworks.

Does An Obsession include disability representation?

Fair

Physical injuries and psychological fragility act as metaphors for alienation. The protagonist's trauma explores mental instability, but it avoids detailed depictions of disability as a lived experience.

Present on Screen

Provides a sophisticated critique of institutional stability and the sanctity of the state.
Challenges traditional heroic clichés within the police procedural genre.
Explores moral relativism and existential nihilism in depth.

Limited or Absent

Lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities and romantic pairings.
Features a relatively uniform cast with minimal racial or ethnic diversity.
Women often function as narrative catalysts rather than autonomous characters.

Official Synopsis

Police detective Sosuke is shot down while chasing a suspect. While unconscious, his gun is stolen. He recovers, but loses his wife and resigns from the force. All of a sudden, his missing firearm is used in a series of crimes.

How are these scores produced? →