Stolen Desire is a 1958 Japanese film directed by Shoji Matsumura. The film tells the story of a troupe of travelling actors who perform both kabuki theatre and strip shows to audiences across Japan. The main character, a young actor named Tsuyoshi, yearns to be taken seriously as a kabuki performer, but is constantly pulled into the raunchy strip shows by the charismatic leader of the troupe, Boss Oyama.
The film is a bawdy and irreverent satire of traditional Japanese culture, as well as a commentary on the changing societal mores of post-war Japan. The actors themselves are a ragtag group of misfits, each with their own quirks and insecurities. The film also touches on themes of love, loyalty, and artistic integrity.
Stolen Desire was controversial upon its release, with some critics decrying its vulgar content and others hailing it as a groundbreaking work of art. Despite its initial mixed reception, the film has since become a cult classic and is widely regarded as one of the most important Japanese films of the 1950s.