Shocking Asia II: The Last Taboos (1985)

Director:

Rolf Olsen

Writer:

Rolf Olsen (writer)

Release Date:

1985 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Mondo | Exploitation | Independent Film

Also Known As:

Shocking Asia II - Die letzten Tabus (West Germany)

Runtime:

Australia:91 min | France:85 min | USA:90 min

Country:

Hong Kong | West Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

West Germany:18 (nf) | Australia:R | France:-12 | South Korea:18

Filming Locations:

Philippines

Company:

First Film Organisation Ltd.

Movie Connections:

Followed by Shocking Asia III: After Dark (1995)

Not that bad really.

This film is more of a travelogue that you'll never see on public TV. It's actually pretty good in a haunting way. The Hobbit House still exists in Manila. Apparently it does great business despite the constantly changing owners. The prostitution scenes were clearly exaggerated. And did anyone else notice the shark fishermen (In footage seen previously in Mondo Cane.) were all missing the same limb. (Except for the poor guy missing both arms.) I get the impression part 1 and 2 were filmed on the same trip. Both had a lot of sex and violence in them but not so much to cause disgust. except maybe the sex-change operation in part 1. I wonder how many of those places still exist the way they were. I live in Asia and sometimes wonder. My Japanese friends thought this doc was a scream.