Ugetsu
(1953, Japanese)
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Cast: Masayuki Mori, Machiko Kyo, Sakae Ozawa, Kinuyo Tanaka
Synopsis:
Genjuro, a potter living in war ravaged Japan with his brother and their wives goes to the city to make more money. His borther Tobei wants to become a Samurai. The journey and the by products of success are hazardous and bring tragedy for all concerned as Genjuro falls in love with another woman and Tobei gets his desired stature through deception, with their wives completely ignored and suffering alone.
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
Runtime: 94 minutes
Color: Black and White
Country: Japan
Awards: Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival
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Verdict: A towering masterpiece.
Ugetsu, directed by Kenji Mizoguchi is one of the masterpieces of cinema. If anyone is unconvinced about cinema as art, this is one movie which must be shown to him. Ugetsu is much more than its story, it is a stunning journey from the first scene to the last, hauntingly beautiful in its images and sounds. It is a compelling dream-like performance to which most credit has to go to Mizoguchi himself.
Spoiler warning: Parts of story in this paragraph!
The story is about two couples against the backdrop of war in Japan. Both men are similar in their ambitiousness but very different in their approach. Genjuro (Masayuki Mori) is a hard working man who makes pottery; he dreams of making more and more money and has the drive and tirelessness to make his dream come true. On the other hand Tobei (Sakae Ozawa) is more of a day dreamer who wants to become a samurai although he seems utterly disqualified to be one. The wives of the two are both against their blind ambition which they consider to be unwise and clearly something which will end up making them unhappy. Both men set out to achieve their goals for which their wives pay immediately, one being raped by soldiers and the other killed. Unaware and unconcerned, both get what they want. Genjuro falls for a woman who is later revealed to be a spirit and Tobei soon discovers that his wife has become a prostitute to make a living. In the end both men come to their senses and realize that what they sought has only brought tragedy to them and their families.
The story seems to say, work has a great purpose but forgetting what you love most in the blindness of your ambition would end you in misery, but it is not all that simple. Ambition is followed by achievement, which is followed by misery, which is followed by a much wiser sense of purpose. There are frequent paradoxes and juxtapositions. Genjuro, Tobei and Lady Wakasa, all were driven by a selfish, almost fanatic ambition, all three not only hurt those around them but also themselves. Must quote Bhagvad Gita on this "He whose efforts are always devoid of desire for fruit and ego, he whose actions have been burnt by the fire of knowledge, the learned call him wise."
The movie contains some outstanding sequences which are bold yet restrained and the effect is that though you feel safe and do not have to look away, you still realize the true horror of the situation and its emotional intensity (pillage, beheading with consent, hunger).
By the time you are half way through the movie you accept Mizoguchi as a master of cinema and want to watch more from him.
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Ugetsu, directed by Kenji Mizoguchi is one of the masterpieces of cinema. If anyone is unconvinced about cinema as art, this is one movie which must be shown to him. Ugetsu is much more than its story, it is a stunning journey from the first scene to the last, hauntingly beautiful in its images and sounds. It is a compelling dream-like performance to which most credit has to go to Mizoguchi himself.
Spoiler warning: Parts of story in this paragraph!
The story is about two couples against the backdrop of war in Japan. Both men are similar in their ambitiousness but very different in their approach. Genjuro (Masayuki Mori) is a hard working man who makes pottery; he dreams of making more and more money and has the drive and tirelessness to make his dream come true. On the other hand Tobei (Sakae Ozawa) is more of a day dreamer who wants to become a samurai although he seems utterly disqualified to be one. The wives of the two are both against their blind ambition which they consider to be unwise and clearly something which will end up making them unhappy. Both men set out to achieve their goals for which their wives pay immediately, one being raped by soldiers and the other killed. Unaware and unconcerned, both get what they want. Genjuro falls for a woman who is later revealed to be a spirit and Tobei soon discovers that his wife has become a prostitute to make a living. In the end both men come to their senses and realize that what they sought has only brought tragedy to them and their families.
The story seems to say, work has a great purpose but forgetting what you love most in the blindness of your ambition would end you in misery, but it is not all that simple. Ambition is followed by achievement, which is followed by misery, which is followed by a much wiser sense of purpose. There are frequent paradoxes and juxtapositions. Genjuro, Tobei and Lady Wakasa, all were driven by a selfish, almost fanatic ambition, all three not only hurt those around them but also themselves. Must quote Bhagvad Gita on this "He whose efforts are always devoid of desire for fruit and ego, he whose actions have been burnt by the fire of knowledge, the learned call him wise."
The movie contains some outstanding sequences which are bold yet restrained and the effect is that though you feel safe and do not have to look away, you still realize the true horror of the situation and its emotional intensity (pillage, beheading with consent, hunger).
By the time you are half way through the movie you accept Mizoguchi as a master of cinema and want to watch more from him.
Click to rate this review:
Write a review»
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