I.K.U.
First pornographic film screened at Sundance Film Festival.
I.K.U. (pronounced ai-kei-ju, abbreviated as iku?) is a 2001 independent film directed by Taiwanese-American experimental filmmaker Shu Lea Cheang. It was marketed as 'a Japanese Sci-Fi Porn Feature' and premiered at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival, becoming the first pornographic film ever screened at that festival. The film is notable for its fusion of science fiction and hardcore pornography, and for its production challenges involving censorship, cast changes, and conflicts between the director and producer.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Shu Lea Cheang
- Producer
- Takashi Asai
- Starring
- Ayumi Tokito · Zachery Nataf · Aja · Akira the Hustler
- Music
- Hoppy Kamiyama · The Saboten
- Cinematography
- Tetsuya Kamoto
- Editing
- Kazuhiro Shirao
- Distributor
- Uplink Co.
- Released
- 3 May 2001 · Japan
- Runtime
- 90 minutes (Premiere) / 74 minutes
- Country
- Japan
- Language
- Japanese / English
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The film is set in or about the year 2030. The Genom Corporation sends a shapeshifting cyborg named Reiko, an I.K.U. Coder, to collect 'orgasm data' by having sex with various individuals. Reiko transforms her right hand into a penis to collect data during climax. The title is a pun on the Japanese word 'iku' (行く), which in sexual slang means to orgasm. The film was partially inspired by Blade Runner (1982).
Reader's Guide
I.K.U. holds significance as a boundary-pushing independent film that challenged both censorship norms and festival programming. Its inclusion at Sundance marked a rare intersection of pornography and mainstream cinema. The film's production was fraught with conflict: producer Takashi Asai wanted a traditional Japanese pink film, while Cheang aimed for American-style hardcore porn. The lead actress disappeared three days before shooting, leading to the role being split among seven actresses. Critical reception was poor, with approximately 40 percent of the audience walking out during initial screenings. The film's legacy lies in its experimental approach to genre and its role in debates about censorship and artistic expression in pornography.
Did You Know?
- The lead actress Mai Hoshino disappeared three days before shooting began, leading to seven actresses sharing the role of Reiko.
- A Tokyo vice squad raided the set during filming.
- The DVD edition has two selectable endings via an onscreen menu.
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