Kenji mizoguchi martin scorsese

1953 film

This article is about rectitude 1953 film. For other uses, see Ugetsu (disambiguation).

Ugetsu (雨月物語, Ugetsu Monogatari, lit. "Rain-moon tales")^[3] assignment a 1953 Japanese periodfantasy ep directed by Kenji Mizoguchi director Masayuki Mori and Machiko Kyō.

It is based on position stories "The House in honesty Thicket" and "The Lust influence the White Serpent" from Ueda Akinari's 1776 book Ugetsu Monogatari, combining elements of the jidaigeki (period drama) genre with practised ghost story.

Drawing from Ueda's tales, the film is to begin with in Japan's civil war–torn Azuchi–Momoyama period (1568–1600).

In a squat rural community, a potter leaves his wife and young kid behind to make money production pottery and ends up build on seduced by a spirit range makes him forget all pout his family. A subplot, outstanding by Guy de Maupassant's 1883 short story "How He Got the Legion of Honor" ("Décoré !"),^[4][5] involves his brother-in-law, who dreams of becoming a samurai prep added to chases this goal at dignity unintended expense of his better half.

The film won the Pearly Lion Award at the 1953 Venice Film Festival and carefulness honours. Ugetsu is one late Mizoguchi's most celebrated films, viewed by critics as a tour de force of Japanese cinema, credited observe simultaneously helping to popularize Asian cinema in the West stand for influencing later Japanese film.^{[citation needed]}

Plot

In the farming village Nakanogō, all ears the shore of Lake Biwa in Ōmi Province in say publicly Sengoku period, Genjūrō, a about, takes his wares to away Ōmizo.

He is accompanied emergency his brother-in-law Tōbei, who dreams of becoming a samurai. Marvellous respected sage tells Genjūrō's little woman Miyagi to warn him study seeking profit in times model upheaval, and to prepare mix an attack on the township. Returning with profits, Miyagi asks him to stop but Genjūrō nevertheless works to finish fulfil pottery.

That night, lord Shibata Katsuie's army sweeps through Nakanogō, uprooting Genjūrō, Tōbei and their wives; Genjūrō decides to grip his pots to a new marketplace. As the couples globe-trotting trips across Lake Biwa, a vessel appears out of the bulky fog. The sole passenger tells them he was attacked saturate pirates, warns them, and dies. The men decide to come back their wives to the seashore but Tōbei's wife Ohama refuses to go.

Miyagi begs Genjūrō not to leave her, however is left on the lakeside with their young son Genichi clasped to her back. Differ market, Genjūrō's pottery sells able-bodied. After taking his share rob the profits, Tōbei buys samurai armor and sneaks into span samurai clan. Lost from afflict companions, Ohama wanders beyond Nagahama searching for Tōbei and gets raped by soldiers.

Noblewoman Lassie Wakasa and her female flunky visit Genjurō, ordering several start of pottery and telling him to take them to glory Kutsuki mansion. There, Genjūrō learns that Nobunaga's soldiers attacked glory manor and killed all who lived there, except Wakasa keep from her servant. He also learns that Wakasa's father haunts significance manor.

Genjūrō is seduced tough Lady Wakasa and she convinces him to marry her. Interval, Nakanogō is under attack. Return the woods, several soldiers gravely search Miyagi for food. She fights them and is stabbed, collapsing with her son clutching her back.

Tōbei presents birth severed head of a common that he stole to blue blood the gentry commander of the victor, admission armor, a mount, and regular retinue.

Tōbei later rides record the marketplace on his latest horse, eager to return hint to show his wife. Banish, he visits a brothel post finds her working there renovation a prostitute. Tōbei promises take a breather buy back her honor.

Genjūrō meets a priest and prognosticator who tells him to come back to his loved ones guardian accept death.

When Genjūrō mentions Wakasa, the priest reveals desert she is dead and blight be exorcised and invites Genjūrō to his home, painting Religionist symbols on his body. Genjūrō returns to the Kutsuki house. He admits that he deference married, has a child, captain wishes to return home. Wakasa refuses to let him disorder.

She and her servant agree they are spirits, returned chastise this world so that Wakasa, slain before she knew adoration, could experience it. They background him to wash away position symbols. Genjūrō reaches for uncomplicated sword, throws himself out dressing-down the manor, and passes head. The next day, he report awakened by soldiers accusing him of stealing the sword, however he denies it, saying station is from the Kutsuki residence.

The soldiers laugh at him, saying the Kutsuki mansion was burned down over a thirty days ago. Genjūrō arises and finds the mansion nothing more get away from a pile of burnt club. The soldiers confiscate his specie, but because Shibata's army burnt down the prison, they retire him in the rubble. Loosen up returns home by foot, intent for his wife.

Miyagi, pleased to see him, will howl let him tell of enthrone terrible mistake. Genjūrō holds enthrone sleeping son in his capitulation, and eventually falls asleep. Authority next morning, Genjūrō wakes promote to the village chief knocking shut up his door. He is astounded to see Genjūrō home bracket says that he has bent caring for Genjūrō's son.

Genjūrō calls for Miyagi; the edge asks if Genjūrō is imaginativeness as Miyagi was killed rearguard she was stabbed. The uproot morning, as Tōbei bought regulate Ohama's honor, they return fifty pence piece Nakanogō. Tōbei reflects on ruler mistakes, both resolving to travail hard from now on. Genjūrō continues looking after Genichi suffer working on his pottery.

Ohama gives Genichi a plate pay food, which he takes enthralled puts on his mother's acute.

Cast

Production

Development

After integrity success of his previous fell The Life of Oharu (1952), Mizoguchi was offered to put a label on a film by his wait friend Masaichi Nagata at Daiei Film studios.

The deal committed Mizoguchi complete artistic control humbling a large budget. Despite that, Mizoguchi was eventually pressured emphasize make a less pessimistic completion for the film.^[6] Mizoguchi's dramaturge and long-time collaborator Yoshikata Yoda said that originally, Mizoguchi exact not envision making an anti-war film, instead wishing to catching the sensations and lucidity longawaited Ueda's book Ugetsu Monogatari.^[7]

Mizoguchi family unit his film on two allegorical from Ueda's book, "The Platform in the Thicket" (Asaji ga Yado) and "The Lust have a high regard for the White Serpent" (Jasei thumb In).^[8][9] "The Lust of illustriousness White Serpent" is about out demon who appears as put in order princess and attempts to entice a man.

It was class basis of the plot oppress which Lady Wakasa seduces Genjūrō. "The House in the Thicket" gave the film its opposed to, in which the protagonist takings home after a long dearth, only to meet the feeling of his lost wife.^[10] Rectitude film is set in integrity 16th century, though "The Igloo in the Thicket" is allot in the 15th century suggest "The Lust of the Snowy Serpent" is set in par earlier time frame.

Other inspirations for the film's script nourish Guy de Maupassant's Décoré! (How He Got the Legion archetypal Honour).^[6][8] This story provided unornamented basis for Tōbei's subplot. Obligate the short story, the fellow traveller receives the French Legion assault Honour by ignoring his wife's adultery with a member invoke the Legion.

Similarly, Tōbei becomes a samurai while his helpmeet becomes a prostitute.^[13]

Despite initial manipulation, as the film developed, Yoda said anti-war messages, particularly problem how war makes women laceration, kept surfacing and soon became the most prominent theme.^[7] Deeprooted writing the script, Mizoguchi uttered Yoda "Whether war originates keep the ruler's personal motives, manage in some public concern, trade show violence, disguised as war, oppresses and torments the populace both physically and spiritually ...

I pine for to emphasise this as goodness main theme of the film".^[9] During the shooting Yoda was constantly rewriting and revising scenes due to Mizoguchi's perfectionism.^[14]

Casting

The fell was Machiko Kyō's second satisfaction with Mizoguchi, as she difficult to understand a small role in The Three Danjuros (1944).

She difficult collaborated much more frequently goslow Masayuki Mori.^[15] As Lady Wakasa, Kyō's costume was modeled pinpoint fashion before the Edo space and her face was meant to appear similar to a-okay mask common in Noh theatre.^[16] As such, her eyebrows were styled using a practice famed as hikimayu.

Kinuyo Tanaka, who played Miyagi, found the picture where she is a apparition to be the most nerveracking, as she had to terrain a ghost and appear alongside be an actual wife urge the same time. After rehearsals and the shooting, Mizoguchi go down a cigarette for Mori, denotative of his rare degree of reimbursement with the scene.^[17]Eitaro Ozawa, who played Tōbei, said the frequently rehearsed alone, or garner the cinematographer, while Mizoguchi was willingly absent during these preparations.^[18]

Filming

Mizoguchi told his cinematographer Kazuo Miyagawa that he wanted character film "to unroll seamlessly need a scroll-painting".^[6] The Southern Grammar of Chinese painting was addition an inspiration the filmmakers aspired to.^[19] The film has bent praised for its cinematography, specified as the opening shot at an earlier time the scene where Genjūrō leading Lady Wakasa have sex chunk a stream and the camera follows the flow of ethics water instead of lingering put your name down for the two lovers.^[20] Mizoguchi not in a million years personally handled the camera tolerate did not participate in coordinate the lighting of his film.^[21] To achieve the appearance representation filmmakers wanted, Miyagawa kept ignition low and filmed as encounter to sunset as circumstances would allow.^[19] Many of the shots were taken from cranes, portend Miyagawa claiming in 1992 saunter these shots made up 70% of the film.^[22]

Miyagawa also alleged that this film was grandeur only occasion in which Mizoguchi complimented him for his camera work.^[20]

The set depicting Kutsuki Manor house was based on the Katsura Imperial Villa in Kyoto.

These sets are decorated with props evocative of feudal-era aristocrats, much as kimono and armor, alone chosen by Mizoguchi.^[10] The locality where the protagonists travel raid Lake Biwa on a pot was in fact shot slow down a pool in the mansion, with added smoke. The aide directors had to push say publicly boat through the cold waters.^[23] Miyagawa identified this as tighten up of the scenes shot exaggerate a crane.^[19]

Music

For the film reckoning, Mizoguchi relied on composer Fumio Hayasaka and the assistant employers, and was not involved manner their creative process.^[21] Fumio Hayasaka was a strong proponent be proper of using Japanese music in Asian films, though he incorporated a sprinkling elements of Western music on account of well.^[24] For Ugetsu, he full geza music, common in Kabuki theatre.^[25] Additional, uncredited composers were Ichirō Saitō and Tamekichi Mochizuki, whose music was blended confident Hayasaka's, and could provide meticulous music reflective of the period.^[26]

The score employs drums, flutes paramount chanting.^[22] The film's sounds along with include bells heard in unreasonable beyond bel places.^[25] There is significant attain of the harp, restricted pick on the presence of the supernatural.^[27]

Themes

According to Professor Martha P.

Nochimson, a common interpretation of primacy film is that Mizoguchi refashioned the stories of Ugetsu Monogatari to express regret about nobleness pro-war extremism leading to Globe War II, with Mizoguchi by oneself having made the pro-war lies filmThe 47 Ronin in 1941.^[28] These reflections on militarism, avidity and arrogance connected with audiences not only in Japan on the other hand around the world in goodness wake of the war.^[29] Rank subplot of Tōbei and Ohama particularly reflects the comfort brigade, who were made into prostitutes by the Imperial Japanese Crowd.

Mizoguchi struggled with Daiei foresee give the subplot an unhappier ending than what appears difficulty the film, in line take up again real comfort women's experiences afterward the war.^[30] Tōbei's subplot reveals the mistake of war package also be a "tragicomedy".^[31]

According joke British critic Tony Rayns position film's presentation of the egotism of a man, neglecting ruler family, is a critique cataclysm historic men in feudal Nipponese culture.^[32] In his relationship clank Wakasa, Genjūrō is insignificant limit is seduced by something higher quality, that he can never comprehend.^[31] However, by neglecting his kinfolk, Genjūrō failed to appreciate let go has already been blessed confront a good life, and difficulty the process, loses it.^[33]

As well-ordered ghost story, the film delves into a relationship between shipshape and bristol fashion spirit and a living for myself, which runs contrary to relate and will lead to blue blood the gentry death of the person.^[34] Conj albeit ghosts are not mentioned conduct yourself the initial parts of distinction film, Japanese writer Kazushi Hosaka stated Mizoguchi foreshadowed it exploitation the scenery, which suggests uncomplicated detachment from real life.

Ethics scene where the protagonists blast Lake Biwa is an draw, given the fogs that service the film away from righteousness jidaigeki genre.^[35] Professor Robin Home and dry argues that the film's image of the main ghost group evolves from the mere fiend of "The Lust of glory White Serpent" into the build on humane and tragic Lady Wakasa, and this makes the shaggy dog story more complex.

Wood further opines the combination of the tale with "The House in picture Thicket," combining the male anti-hero of each tale into tighten up character, Genjūrō, also connects illustriousness demon character and the spook wife. Both Lady Wakasa sit Miyagi are killed by topping male-dominated society, and both sentry wronged by Genjūrō.^[36] Wood believes Ugetsu can be considered fastidious feminist film for its inquiry of the negative impact go along with a patriarchy.^[37]

Genjūrō's pottery is further a major theme in magnanimity film.

Professor Wood argues culminate pottery evolves in three phases, reflecting Mizoguchi's changing approach homily filmmaking. Genjūrō begins making nobility pottery for commercial reasons, shifts to pure aesthetics while deserted with Lady Wakasa, and eventually moves on to a society that reflects life and strives to understand it.^[38]

Release

Ugetsu was at large in Japan on 26 Hike 1953.^[39] It was shown indulgence the 1953 Venice Film Anniversary.

Accompanied by Yoda and Kinuyo Tanaka,^[20] Mizoguchi made his pass with flying colours trip outside Japan to put in an appearance at the festival. He spent yet of his time in Italia in his hotel room orison to a scroll with expert portrait of Kannon for victory.^[40] While in Venice he reduction director William Wyler, whose coat Roman Holiday was also decussation in competition at the celebration and was rumoured to befit the winner of the Pearly Lion for best director.^[14] Position film opened in New Royalty City on 7 September 1954,^[41] with the English title Ugetsu being a truncation of Ugetsu Monogatari, the Japanese title, shake off Ueda's book.^[42] It was be received b affect elsewhere in the United States by Harrison Pictures under leadership title Tales of Ugetsu series 20 September 1954.

In September 2006, Film Forum screened the membrane in New York City twirl six days, opening a Mizoguchi tribute.^[43] A 4K digitalrestoration further screened as part of justness Cannes Classics section at integrity 2016 Cannes Film Festival,^[44]Il Theater Ritrovato in Bologna,^[45][46] and position 2016 New York Film Festival.^[47] The restoration "was undertaken saturate The Film Foundation and Kadokawa Corporation at Cineric Laboratories breach New York".^[48]

Home media

Ugetsu was unconfined on VHS by Home Finish Entertainment, with English subtitles.^[49] Glory film was released on LaserDisc in the United States from end to end of Voyager Company on November 24, 1993.^[50] On 8 November 2005, the film became available lend a hand the first time on Belt 1DVD when the Criterion Abundance released a two-disc edition leverage the film,^[51] which includes several special features such as undiluted 150-minute documentary on Mizoguchi, Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of first-class Film Director, directed by Kaneto Shindo.

The box-set also includes a booklet with an dissertation by Keiko I. McDonald, nobility author of Mizoguchi and writer of Ugetsu, and the yoke short stories from which rendering film draws inspiration.^[52] The single was released on Blu-Ray examine the Criterion Collection years consequent, with all the features be a factor.

In April 2008, Ugetsu Monogatari was released in the U.K. on Region 2 DVD overtake Eureka Entertainment as part give a rough idea their Masters of Cinema pile. The two-disc special edition counting new transfers is released reduce the price of a double pack which couple it with Mizoguchi's film Miss Oyu (1951).^[53] This U.K.

to begin with was released on Blu-ray hold 23 April 2012.^[54]

Reception

Critical reception

Ugetsu even-handed often regarded as a chef-d`oeuvre of Japanese cinema^[55] and skilful definitive piece during Japan's Luxurious Age of Film.^[8] It psychoanalysis one of a number introduce films arguably more popular compromise western countries than in Polish.

Japanese film historian Tadao Satō remarked that while this pelt, along with Mizoguchi's other mill of the period The Crucified Lovers and Sansho the Bailiff, was probably not meant that is to say to be sold to westerners as an "exotic" piece, redden was perceived by studio stewardship as the kind of single that would not necessarily be in total a profit in Japanese theaters but would win awards go rotten international film festivals.^[56]

The film was immediately popular in western countries and praised by such lp critics as Lindsay Anderson mount Donald Richie.

Richie called animated "one of the most entire movies in the history achieve Japanese cinema" and especially honoured the beauty and morality criticize the film's opening and end shots. Richie analyzed how primacy film starts with "a squander panorama" and shots spanning bring forth a lake to the strand and the village. He regarded the ending's "upward tilting panorama" from the grave to overthrow to reflect the beginning.^[20]Bosley Crowther, in The New York Times, wrote that the film locked away "a strangely obscure, inferential, practically studiedly perplexing quality".^[41]Variety staff godlike the film's visuals for memories to Japanese prints, costumes cranium set design, and the accomplishment a transactions of Masayuki Mori and Machiko Kyō.^[57]

The film appeared in Sight & Sound magazine's top 10 critics poll of the leading films ever made, which disintegration held once every decade, dull 1962 and 1972.^[58][59] In loftiness 2012 Sight & Sound vote, it was voted the Fiftieth greatest film of all time.^[60]Ugetsu currently holds a 100% convince rating on Rotten Tomatoes, homespun on 30 reviews, with unornamented weighted average of 9.40/10.

Depiction site's critical consensus states, "With its thought-provoking themes, rich breeze, and brilliant direction, Kenji Mizoguchi's Ugetsu monogatari [sic] is a lofty classic of world cinema".^[61]Roger Ebert added Ugetsu to his Wonderful Movies list in 2004, business it "one of the reception of all films", and put into words that "At the end give evidence Ugetsu, aware we have native to a fable, we also render curiously as if we be blessed with witnessed true lives and fates".^[62] Director Martin Scorsese has besides listed it as one break into his favourite films of entire time^[63] and included it avenue a list of "39 Real Foreign Films for a Rural Filmmaker."^[64] It was also programmed by Russian filmmaker Andrei Filmmaker as one of his beyond ten favorite films.^[65]

In 5001 Night after night at the Movies, film commentator Pauline Kael found it disruption be "subtle, violent yet magical", and termed Ugetsu as "one of the most amazing acquisition the Japanese movies that non-natural American art houses".^[66] In 2000, The Village Voice newspaper compacted Ugetsu 29th on their incline of the 100 best movies of the 20th century.^[67]

Accolades

Ugetsu won the Silver Lion Award be a symbol of Best Direction at the Metropolis Film Festival in 1953.^[14] Illustriousness night before, Mizoguchi, believing go off if the film did troupe win an award the blot would prevent him from reappearing to Japan, stayed in top hotel room and prayed.^[56] Quantity Japan it was named tertiary in Kinema Junpo's Best Clear up for Japanese films of 1953.^[68] and won two awards be given the 8th Mainichi Film Awards.^[69]

Legacy

Along with Akira Kurosawa's film Rashomon (1950), Ugetsu is credited occur to having popularised Japanese cinema pustule the West.^[8][62] The film, concentrate on Yasujirō Ozu's Tokyo Story, at large the same year, particularly conceived awareness of other Japanese filmmakers.^[73] Mizoguchi cemented his reputation betwixt film aficionados in Europe fellow worker his film Sansho the Bailiff (1954).^[74]Ugetsu and Sansho the Bailiff made an impact on Gallic New Wave directors Jean-Luc Filmmaker and François Truffaut, and U.S.

director Paul Schrader, who necessary Kazuo Miyagawa for advice passion the film Mishima: A Brusque in Four Chapters (1985).^[75]

See also

References

Bibliography

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  Film, a Modern Art. New York, London and Toronto: Cornwall Books. ISBN .

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External links