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The Key adaptations: books & films
Every version of The Key — the books & films, compared across media.
A marriage worn thin by decades, and a husband's frenzied reach for renewed desire — these are the threads running through every version of The Key. Originally told through parallel diaries in Junichiro Tanizaki's novel, and later transposed to 1940s Venice on film, the story examines what happens when long familiarity tips into repression and a couple strains toward passion. Two media, one obsession.
The Key films
The Key books
Frequently asked
Is The Key (1983) based on a book?
Yes. The 1983 film draws on the same story as 鍵 (Kagi), a novel told through parallel diaries about a middle-aged professor and his repressed wife striving to renew their long marriage.
How many versions of The Key are there?
This collection includes two versions: the 1961 novel 鍵 (Kagi) and the 1983 film The Key, which relocates the story to 1940s Venice.
Which version of The Key should I start with?
If you prefer cinema, The Key (1983) sets the story in 1940s Venice with a retired art critic at its centre; if you'd rather experience the story's intimate dual-diary structure, start with 鍵 (Kagi).