Empire of Passion (愛の亡霊, Ai no Bōrei?) is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Nagisa Ōshima. It was Japan's submission to the 51st Academy Awards for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, but was not accepted as a nominee.[1] The film was entered into the 1978 Cannes Film Festival, where Oshima won the award for Best Director.[2]