Taboo

Taboo

Year: 2000

Runtime: 100 min

Language: English

Director: Nagisa Ôshima

DramaHistory

During the 1970s, a man's secret relationship with someone from a different ethnic background is exposed, sending shockwaves through his community. The discovery challenges deeply ingrained social norms and forces his friends and family to examine their own prejudices. This drama explores themes of identity, acceptance, and the difficult journey toward equality in a time of significant social change.

Taboo (2000) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Taboo (2000) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the restless atmosphere of the early 1970s, a tight‑knit community clings to long‑standing traditions while the world beyond its borders begins to shift. Social gatherings hum with familiar rituals, yet beneath the surface an undercurrent of change stirs—new ideas about freedom, equality, and the definition of family whisper through the streets. The cultural backdrop is both vibrant and oppressive, painting a picture of a place where conformity feels as comfortable as it is constricting.

At the heart of this world is Michael, a reserved yet charismatic man who has built a respectable life within the community’s expectations. Behind closed doors he shares a concealed, deeply personal connection with Aisha, a woman whose heritage lies outside the town’s accepted norms. Their bond challenges every unwritten rule that has guided Michael’s upbringing, forcing him to navigate a delicate balance between loyalty to his family, the pressure of his friends, and the yearning for an authentic self. As rumors begin to surface, both characters find themselves caught in a quiet tension that reflects the broader societal clash between old prejudices and emerging ideals.

The film unfolds with a measured, atmospheric tone, blending the intimacy of personal drama with the larger question of how societies confront hidden truths. Through nuanced performances and evocative period details, the story invites viewers to witness the fragile courage required to defy convention. It is a meditation on identity, the weight of communal judgment, and the tentative steps toward acceptance that echo far beyond the era in which the tale is set.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 12:34

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Claustrophobic thrillers of moral collapse like Taboo

Taut, deceptive stories where intimate betrayals spiral into violent ends.If you liked the intense, suspenseful atmosphere of Taboo, explore more movies like it. These films share a claustrophobic setting, high-stakes deception, and a narrative that charts the bloody dissolution of relationships and morals, delivering a dark and unsettling viewing experience.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread often begin with a seemingly stable social unit—a family, a group of friends, or a small community—that becomes a pressure cooker for hidden lies and resentments. The plot is driven by a series of betrayals and revelations that escalate tension, forcing characters into morally reprehensible actions and culminating in a bleak, often violent, conclusion where no one emerges unscathed.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped together because they create a powerful, cohesive vibe of psychological suffocation and inevitable disaster. They share a fast pacing that mirrors the rapid collapse of order, a dark tone devoid of humor, and a heavy emotional weight derived from watching characters destroy each other in close quarters.

Movies about dark family secrets like Taboo

Stories where shocking familial truths lead to manipulation and ruin.For viewers who appreciated the complex web of hidden identities and twisted relationships in Taboo, this section features similar movies about dark family secrets. These dramas and thrillers explore how shocking revelations can manipulate characters and lead to confession, betrayal, and a profoundly bleak outcome.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a central, taboo secret that binds or breaks a family. The plot is often complex, structured around the gradual or sudden revelation of this truth, which is then used as a tool for manipulation. Characters are forced to confront a horrifying reality about their origins or relationships, leading to confession under duress, further betrayal, and a conclusion that offers no catharsis, only the burden of a corrupt legacy.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their focus on the destructive power of familial taboos. They share a complex narrative structure with twists related to identity, a consistently dark and unsettling tone, and a heavy emotional weight stemming from themes of incest and moral corruption. The experience is intellectually and emotionally demanding.

Unlock the Full Story of Taboo

Don't stop at just watching — explore Taboo in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Taboo is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Taboo Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Taboo, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Taboo Summary

Taboo Timeline

Track the full timeline of Taboo with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Taboo Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Taboo

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Taboo. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Taboo

More About Taboo

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Taboo: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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