Ugetsu monogatari (1953)
Directed by Kenji Mizoguchi
Genres - Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, War |
Sub-Genres - Romantic Fantasy, Period Film |
Release Date - Sep 7, 1954 (USA) |
Run Time - 96 min. |
Countries - Japan |
MPAA Rating - NR
Share on
Synopsis by Jonathan Crow
Presented in a manner as eerie as it is heartbreaking, this film is a gorgeous supernatural fable about the folly of men with dreams larger than their abilities, and the women who suffer as a result. In 16th century Japan, Genjuro (Masayuki Mori) is a potter who longs for wealth and luxury, while Tobei (Sakae Ozawa), a farmer, dreams of the glories of the samurai to the point of ignoring his wife (Mitsuko Mito). Though a war rages around them, they venture to town to sell their wares. Genjuro becomes bewitched by a beautiful yet vengeful ghost (Machiko Kyo), while his wife (Kinuyo Tanaka) is murdered by a soldier; Tobei becomes a noted warrior, while his wife descends into prostitution after being raped while searching for her husband.
Characteristics
Moods
Themes
Keywords
aspiration, dreams, peasant, career, fable, suffering, women, ghost, supernatural, warrior, luxury, pottery, prostitute/prostitution, rape, wealth, civil-war, Samurai
Attributes
High Artistic Quality, High Historical Importance
