Shikibu monogatari (1990)

Toyoichi Otomo suffers from psychological and spiritual troubles after a horrific industrial accident. He lives with his elderly mother and wife near Mt. Aso in rural Kyushu. He seeks solace in a small religious group run by Buddhist nun Chishu-bo who claims to be the 68th descendant of famed 11th century poet Izumi Shikibu. The members of her sect regard her as a living saint. Yet instead of balming his soul, she riles his libido by playing a sexual cat-and-mouse game with the fragile Toyoichi. When she does bed him, it leads to a miracle healing -- followed by a terrible calamity.

Released Oct. 6, 1990 112 min None+

Genres: Drama

Keywords: imdb.japan, imdb.religion, imdb.religious-fanaticism, imdb.written-by-director, imdb.reincarnation, imdb.buddhism, imdb.curing-the-sick-and-cripled + 28 more, imdb.taking-on-someone-else-s-illness, imdb.reference-to-shikibu-the-11th-century-poetess, imdb.healing, imdb.mental-illness, imdb.factory-accident, imdb.husband-wife-relationship, imdb.cheating-wife, imdb.mother-son-relationship, imdb.extramarital-affair, imdb.adultery, imdb.unfaithfulness, imdb.infidelity, imdb.religious-sect, imdb.priestess, imdb.infatuation, imdb.reference-to-buddha, imdb.sex, imdb.manipulative-woman, imdb.disciple, imdb.crying-woman, imdb.crying-man, imdb.falling-from-height, imdb.falling-off-a-cliff, imdb.religious-extremism, imdb.legend, imdb.power-of-healing, imdb.mountain, imdb.based-on-play