Kōji Wakamatsu

A revolutionary voice in Japanese cinema, Kōji Wakamatsu was born in 1936 in Wakuya, Miyagi, Japan. His active years spanned from 1963 to 2012, during which he distinguished himself in the genres of pinku eiga (Japanese softcore pornographic cinema) and independent underground films, with his most renowned works being "Ecstasy of the Angels" and "United Red Army". Despite the lack of awards at major film festivals, Wakamatsu's raw and confrontational style, often blending sex, politics and violence, made him a unique and controversial figure in the film industry. With a career that challenged societal norms and cinematic conventions, Wakamatsu was indeed an unflinching provocateur who never shied away from expressing his uncompromising vision.