No less acclaimed has been its maker, kenji mizoguchi. Ugetsu monogatari masters of cinema dual format edition blu. One photograph of a series taken by eadweard muybridge of a running horse. Among the masterpieces he created during this period, one of the most famous is ugetsu aka ugetsu monogatari tales of moonlight and rain, 1953. Genjuro by the ghostly charm of lady wakasa and tobei by the dream of being a famed great samurai.
Here we saw how deviation from the right path, how favouring self over duty and responsibility, led to complete destruction. In 16th century japan, peasants genjuro and tobei sell their earthenware pots to a group of soldiers in a nearby village, in defiance of a local sages warning against seeking to profit from warfare. A tale of ambition, family, love, and war set in the midst of the japanese civil wars of the sixteenth century. Ugetsu monogatari is a collection of nine supernatural tales by the japanese author ueda. Ugetsu monogatari 1953, considered one of the finest of all japanese films, is an outstanding example of mizoguchis period drama.
Tales of moonlight and rain is a collection of ghostly folktales from edo japan. Kenji mizoguchi facts kenji mizoguchi 18981956 was a japanese film director most noted for exploring both personal and broad societal issues such as the status of women. Unpopular essays on a popular art, quadrangle books, chicago, 1972, p. Kenji mizoguchi s ugetsu 1953 tells their stories in one of the greatest of all films one which, along with kurosawas rashomon, helped introduce japanese cinema to western audiences. Ugetsu, also known as tales of ugetsu or ugetsu monogatari. Director kenji mizoguchi s film is based on the 18th century supernatural stories in the ugetsu monogatari tales of moonlight and rain, and takes place during civil warfare in 16th century japan. Kenji mizoguchi s masterpiece sansho dayu turns 60 years old. Masayuki mori, machiko kyo, kinuyo tanaka, eitaro ozawa, ikio. According to writer mark le fanu, his films have an extraordinary force and purity. Ugetsu, by director kenji mizoguchi is one of the most beautiful and hauntingly character driven films in the history of not only japanese cinema, but cinema anywhere. Many shinpa of this time featured novels adapted to film. August 24, 1956, kyoto, japan filmography bibliography articles in senses web resources the comparisons are as inevitable as they are unfashionable, wrote james quandt, introducing the centenary retrospective of the films of kenji mizoguchi. Ugetsu monogatari directed by kenji mizoguchi available on. Based on a pair of 18th century ghost stories by ueda akinari, the films release continued mizoguchi s introduction to the west, where it was nominated for an oscar and won the the venice film festivals silver lion award for best direction.
The authors name appears in an advertisement for this book. Ugetsu monogatari is the mizoguchi film in many critics 10best lists, while the life of oharu is the epic. And they have ambitions that take advantage of the turmoil of war. Ugetsu monogatari was the basis for the film ugetsu 1953, directed by mizoguchi kenji. With masayuki mori, machiko kyo, kinuyo tanaka, mitsuko mito. Even more exquisite and emotionally poignant than their collaboration on ugetsu monogatari, the film gave mizoguchi his second silver lion at venice although somewhat ignominiously for mizoguchi, the prize was shared with kurosawas seven samurai. The life of a film director 1975, a 150minute documentary by kaneto shindotwo worlds intertwined, a 2005 appreciation of ugetsu by filmmaker masahiro shinodaprocess and production, a 2005 interview with tokuzo tanaka, first assistant director on ugetsu interview from 1992 with cinematographer kazuo miyagawatrailers.
Tattered cover film series ugetsu ugetsu monogatari. Hailed by critics as one of the greatest films ever made, kenji mizoguchi s ugetsu is an undisputed masterpiece of japanese cinema, revealing greater depths of meaning and emotion with each successive viewing. The story of the last chrysanthemums 1939, ugetsu monogatari 1953, sansho the bailiff 1954 underrated. Its story is about two brothers, one greedy, the other envious, both pursuing their natures at a time of widespread war. And as often for mizoguchi, nothing is a coincidence and nothing is put randomly into the frame. Kenji mizoguchi, director rutgers films in print mcdonald, keiko on. Its initial straightforwardness, as a parable against the pitfalls of human greed, is a misdirection that leads the audience into a void in which objectivity and subjectivity intermingle, hopelessly and. Ugetsu monogatari tales of the moon and rain 1953 has since i saw it for the first time followed me deeply throughout my life, namely because of as you mention, the cinematography is spot on. Ugestu was based upon the ugetsu monogatari, a series of short stories written by ueda akinari in.
The heroes are roughhewn and consumed by ambition, but the film style is elegant and mysterious, and somehow we know before we are told that this is a. Roger ebert calls the film one of the greatest movies ever made. In his masterpiece ugetsu monogatari the japanese kenji mizoguchi tells the story of genjuro, a potter, and his brotherinlaw, the farmer tobei. Ugetsu monogatari, or tales of moonlight and rain numbers among the bestloved japanese classics. Kenji mizoguchi 18981956 was a japanese film director most noted for exploring both personal and broad societal issues such as the status of women. Kenji mizoguchi, quietly came out with a trilogy of films the life of oharu, ugetsu monogatari, and. Ugetsu is a 1953 japanese film in 16th century japan potter genjuro and tobei set out with their wives in search of wealth and military glory. Mizoguchi s exquisite gender tragedy is set during japans violent 16thcentury civil wars, a. Genjuro is visited by a noblewoman and her female servant, who order several pieces of pottery and tell him to.
Largely taken from traditional japanese and chinese ghost stories, the collection is among most important works of japanese fiction of the 18th century, the middle of the edo. Ugetsu monogatari tales of the rain and moon 1953, japan, 97 min, bw, english subtitles, aspect ratio. Other articles where ugetsu monogatari is discussed. The life of a film director, a 1975 documentary by kaneto shindo two worlds intertwined, a 2005 appreciation of ugetsu by masahiro shinoda process and production, a 2005 interview with tokuzo tanaka. Mizoguchi s ugetsu monogatari tales of the rain and moon, aka ugetsu is a highly acclaimed masterwork of japanese cinema.
By the time he made ugetsu, kenji mizoguchi was already an elder statesman of japanese cinema, fiercely revered by akira kurosawa and other directors of a younger generation. Genjuros pursuit of both riches and the mysterious lady wakasa, as well as tobeis desire to become a samurai, run the risk of destroying both themselves and their wives, miyagi and ohama. Buy ugetsu monogatari directed by kenji mizoguchi online at alibris. These nine illustrated tales of the supernatural from eighteenthcentury osaka combine popular appeal with a high literary standard. Two parallel tales ensue when the men are lured from their wives. Ugetsu monogatari or tales of moonlight and rain routledge. In wartorn sixteenth century japan, a potter and a farmer leave their respective wives, one to. It became famous in the west through kenji mizoguchis 1953 film by the same title, which focuses on a single narrativefrom aaji go yado the house amid. A film version of ugetsu monogatari, directed by mizoguchi kenji, came out in 1953. Ugetsu by kenji mizoguchi and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The life of a film director, a 1975 documentary by kaneto shindo two worlds intertwined, a 2005 appreciation of ugetsu by masahiro shinoda process and production, a 2005 interview with tokuzo tanaka, first assistant director on ugetsu interview from 1992. They shake and move the viewer by the power, refinement and compassion with which they confront human suffering.
Ugetsu monogatari by kenji mizoguchi kenji mizoguchi. Mar 22, 2017 one of my favourite pairing was the classic ugetsu 1953, kenji mizoguchi, and double suicide 1969, masahiro shinoda. It was first published in 1776, and was adapted from chinese ghost stories. It is a ghost story and an example of the jidaigeki period drama genre, starring masayuki mori and machiko kyo. Audio commentary by critic, filmmaker, and festival programmer tony rayns kenji mizoguchi. This month well see the 1953 kenji mizoguchi classic ugetsu ugetsu monogatari. Like bach, titian, and shakespeare, he is the greatest in his art, enthused the french critic jean douchet. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
Ugetsu monogatari is mizoguchi kenjis most famous film and the first fruit of a unique carte blanche contract awarded to him by daiei studio on the back of the international success of the life of oharu in 1952 which set him free to make anything he. Eitaro ozawa as tobei as sakae ozawa ichisaburo sawamura as genichi. It is a ghost story and an example of the jidaigeki period drama genre, starring masayuki mori and machiko kyo drawing its plot particularly from uedas tales the house in. By the time he made ugetsu, kenji mizoguchi was already an elder statesman of japanese cinema, fiercely revered by akira kurosawa and other directors of a. Fumio hayasaka, tamekichi mochizuki, ichiro saito cast. Matsutaro kawaguchi, yoshikata yoda based on stories by akinari ueda phot. The two live with their wives in a small village in the middle of a wartorn area. Ugetsu monogatari is a collection of nine supernatural tales by the japanese author ueda akinari, first published in 1776. When genjuro delivers the noblewomans order to her mansion. Notable as a study of the nature of reality and for its sense of place created by carefully controlled camera movement, ugetsu is an allegorical read more. Mizoguchi is cinemas shakespeare, its bach or beethoven, its rembrant, titian or picasso. He is, according to the yomiuri shimbun regarded as the dean of japanese filmmaking.
Ugetsu monogatari was not the first kenji mizoguchi film to be shown in the west, but it was the first to reveal him to the west as a major artist. Kenji mizoguchis staggering ugetsu is a film of many riddles and paradoxes that unfolds with the illusory simplicity of a fable. Largely taken from traditional japanese and chinese ghost stories, the collection is among most important works of japanese fiction of the 18th century, the middle of the edo period. Mizoguchi s bestknown work, based on two stories by the 18th century writer akinari ueda often described as the japanese maupassant, was one of a handful. This film has always been one of my favorites of this unique japanese director, and it is good to see that his films are becoming more accessible here in the west. Kenji mizoguchi, mizoguchi kenji, may 16, 1898 august 24, 1956 was a japanese film director and screenwriter mizoguchi s work is renowned for its long takes and miseenscene. The 1953 film ugetsu monogatari, or tales of moonlight and rain in english, directed by. Mizoguchis ugetsu monogatari tales of the rain and moon, aka ugetsu is a highly acclaimed masterwork of japanese cinema. Mizoguchi himself said he made only about 75 films or so, not really very many. Swiftly establishing itself especially in france on many critics ten best lists, the film opened the way for the acclamation of the work of mizoguchi s final period.
Ugetsu monogatari has been widely acclaimed as a masterpiece of the japanese cinema since the. Japanese filmmaker kenji mizoguchis career reached its peak in the early 1950s just before his untimely death. Director kenji mizoguchi ia a master of cinematic imagery. Aug 21, 2011 kenji mizoguchi 1898 1956 three key films. Often appearing on lists of the ten greatest films of all time, called one of the most beautiful films ever made, or the most masterful work of japanese cinema, ugetsu comes to us awash in superlatives.
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