Underground cinema is often host to graphic sexual imagery, but entries are generally overlooked on the basis of arousal. Perhaps the segregation between art and exploitation prevents such consideration. Tokyo X Erotica bucks this trend with a blend of cinematic styles. Shooting on digital, director Takahisa whips up a heady brew of birth/death/sex/hate symbolic parallels that will keep your head swimming in analysis for days.

The sexual elements (all softcore), consisting of girl/girl, bondage and boy/girl, are inextricably woven into the thematic framework. The erotic and the intellectual are therefore inseparable. Pre-nom this unconventional burst of thought and libido-provoking cinema for Best Alternative Title.