| Revision as of 00:46, 21 September 2012 editWyldephang (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users1,429 editsNo edit summary← Previous edit | Revision as of 21:02, 21 September 2012 edit undo66.212.78.220 (talk) →Release and receptionNext edit → | ||
| (4 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
| |director = ] | |director = ] | ||
| |producer = ] | |producer = ] | ||
| |writer = ]<br>]<br>] | |writer = ]<br>] | ||
| |starring = ]<br>]<br>] | |based on = '']'' by ]|starring = ]<br>]<br>] | ||
| |music = ] | |music = ] | ||
| |distributor = ] | |distributor = ] | ||
| Line 19: | Line 19: | ||
| '''''Ugetsu''''' ({{lang-ja|雨月物語}} ''Ugetsu monogatari'') is a 1953 Japanese film directed by ]. Set in ] ], it stars ] and ]. It is one of Mizoguchi's most celebrated films, regarded by critics as a masterwork of ], a definitive piece during Japan's Golden Age of Film. {{citation needed|date=August 2012}} | '''''Ugetsu''''' ({{lang-ja|雨月物語}} ''Ugetsu monogatari'') is a 1953 Japanese film directed by ]. Set in ] ], it stars ] and ]. It is one of Mizoguchi's most celebrated films, regarded by critics as a masterwork of ], a definitive piece during Japan's Golden Age of Film. {{citation needed|date=August 2012}} | ||
| The title, ''Ugetsu monogatari'', is derived from |
The title, ''Ugetsu monogatari'', is derived from two short stories from the ] by ] including ''Asaji ga yado'' ("The House amid the Reeds").<ref>McDonald, Keiko. ''Mizoguchi''. Boston: Twayne Publishers. 1984. ISBN 0-8057-9295-3. pp. 103-104.</ref> ''Monogatari'' means "tale", while ''ugetsu'' is a shortening of ''u-sei-getsu'', meaning "] obscured by ]", so a literal translation would be ''Tales of the Moon Obscured by Rainclouds''; the translation ''Tales of Moonlight and Rain'' is also used.{{citation needed|date=August 2012}} | ||
| ==Plot== | ==Plot== | ||
| Line 62: | Line 62: | ||
| *Koji Murata | *Koji Murata | ||
| *Fumihiko Yokoyama | *Fumihiko Yokoyama | ||
| ==Production== | |||
| Mizoguchi based his film on two short stories by 19th Century gothic writer Akinari Neda. While writing the script, Mizoguchi told his screenwriter and long time collaborator ] "Whether war originates in the ruler's personal motives, or in some public concern, how violence, disguised as war, oppresses and torments the popluace both physically and spiritually...I want to emphasize this as the main theme of the film."<ref>McDonald. pp. 116.</ref> During the shooting Yoda was constantly rewriting and revising scenes due to Mizoguchi's perfectionism.<ref>McDonald. pp. 104.</ref> | |||
| ==Release and reception== | |||
| ''Ugetsu'' premiered at the 1953 ]. Mizoguchi made his first trip outside of Japan to attend the festival, although he spent most of his time in Italy inside his hotel room praying to a scroll with a portrait of St. Nichiren. While in venice he met director ], whose film '']'' was also screening in competition at the festival and was rumored be the winner of the Silver Lion for Best Director. At the festival Mizoguchi saw a film shot in 70mm for the first time and was shocked by the experience. According to his friend and collaborator ] Mizoguchi banged his head against a wall after a screening and began making plans to screen a 70mm film on the front gate of ] in Kyoko.<ref>McDonald. pp. 104.</ref> | |||
| ==Awards== | ==Awards== | ||
| ''Ugetsu'' won the Silver Lion Award for Best Direction at the |
''Ugetsu'' won the Silver Lion Award for Best Direction at the Venice Film Festival in 1953.<ref>McDonald. pp. 104.</ref> The film appeared in '']'' magazine's top ten critics poll of the greatest movies ever made, which is held once every decade, in 1962 and 1972. In 2000, '']'' newspaper ranked ''Ugetsu'' at #29 on their list of the 100 best films of the 20th century. | ||
| ==Home Video== | ==Home Video== | ||
Revision as of 21:02, 21 September 2012
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Ugetsu" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Ugetsu | |
|---|---|
 1953 Japanese poster | |
| Directed by | Kenji Mizoguchi |
| Written by | Matsutarō Kawaguchi Yoshikata Yoda |
| Produced by | Masaichi Nagata |
| Starring | Masayuki Mori Machiko Kyō Kinuyo Tanaka |
| Music by | Fumio Hayasaka |
| Distributed by | Daiei |
| Release dates | March 26, 1953 (Japan) September 7, 1954 (USA) |
| Running time | 94 mins. |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
Ugetsu (Template:Lang-ja Ugetsu monogatari) is a 1953 Japanese film directed by Kenji Mizoguchi. Set in Azuchi–Momoyama period Japan, it stars Masayuki Mori and Machiko Kyō. It is one of Mizoguchi's most celebrated films, regarded by critics as a masterwork of Japanese cinema, a definitive piece during Japan's Golden Age of Film.
The title, Ugetsu monogatari, is derived from two short stories from the story collection of the same name by Akinari Ueda including Asaji ga yado ("The House amid the Reeds"). Monogatari means "tale", while ugetsu is a shortening of u-sei-getsu, meaning "Moon obscured by rainclouds", so a literal translation would be Tales of the Moon Obscured by Rainclouds; the translation Tales of Moonlight and Rain is also used.
Plot
Ugetsu is set in villages which line the shore of Lake Biwa in Ōmi Province in the late 16th century. It revolves around two peasant couples – Genjurō and Miyagi, Tōbei and Ohama – who are uprooted as Shibata Katsuie's army sweeps through their farming village, Nakanogō. Genjurō, a potter, takes his wares to nearby Ōmizo. He is accompanied by Tōbei, who dreams of becoming a samurai. A respected sage tells Miyagi to warn her husband about seeking profit in time of upheaval, and to prepare for a probable attack on the village. Genjurō arrives with his profits, but she asks him to stop. Genjurō nevertheless works long hours to finish his pottery. That night Nakanogō is attacked by soldiers, and the four main characters hide out in the woods.
Genjurō decides to take the pots to a different marketplace, and the two couples travel across a lake. Out of the thick fog another boat appears. The sole passenger tells them he was attacked by pirates, warns them back to their homes, then dies. The two men decide to return their wives to the shore. Tōbei's wife refuses to go; Miyagi begs Genjurō not to leave her, but is left on the shore with their young son clasped to her back. At market, Genjurō's pottery sells well. After taking his promised share of the profits, Tōbei runs off to buy samurai armor, and sneaks into the ranks of a clan of samurai. Lost from her companions, Ohama has wandered beyond Nagahama in her desperate search for Tōbei. She is raped by a group of soldiers.
Genjurō is visited by a noblewoman and her female servant, who order several pieces of pottery and tell him to take them to the Kutsuki mansion. Genjurō learns that soldiers have attacked the manor and killed all who lived there, except Lady Wakasa and her three servants. He also learns that Lady Wakasa's father haunts the manor. Genjurō is seduced by Lady Wakasa, and she convinces him to marry her. Meanwhile, Nakanogō is under attack. Miyagi and her son hide from soldiers and are found by an elderly woman who hurries them to safety. In the woods, several soldiers desperately search her for food. She fights with the soldiers and is stabbed. She collapses with her son still clutching her back.
Tōbei steals the severed head of a general, which he presents to the commander of the victorious side. He is rewarded with armor, a mount, and a retinue. Tōbei later rides into the marketplace on his new horse, eager to return home to show his wife. However, he visits a brothel and finds her working there. Tōbei promises to buy back her honor. Later, the two return to Nakanogō, Tōbei sans armor.
Genjurō meets a priest, who tells him to return to his loved ones or certain death awaits him. When Genjurō mentions the noblewoman, the priest reveals that the noblewoman is dead and must be exorcised, and then invites Genjurō to his home where he paints Buddhist prayers on his body. Genjurō returns to the Kutsuki mansion. He admits that he is married, has a child and wishes to return home. Lady Wakasa will not let him go. They admit they are spirits, returned to this world so that Lady Wakasa, who was slain before she knew love, could experience its joys. She tells him to wash away the Buddhist symbols. Genjurō reaches for a sword, throws himself out of the manor, and passes out. The next day, he is awakened by soldiers. They accuse him of stealing the sword, but he denies it, saying it is from the Kutsuki mansion. The soldiers laugh at him, saying the Kutsuki mansion was burned down over a month ago. Genjurō arises and finds the mansion he has lived in is nothing more than a pile of burnt wood.
Miyagi, delighted to see him, will not let him tell of his terrible mistake. Genjurō holds his sleeping son in his arms, and eventually lies down to sleep. The next morning, Genjurō wakes to the village chief knocking on his door. He is surprised to see Genjurō home, and expresses concern. He explains that he has been caring for Genjurō's son, and that the boy must have come to his old home in the middle of the night. Genjurō calls for Miyagi. The neighbor asks if Genjurō is dreaming, as his wife is dead. Miyagi's spirit tells Genjurō: "I am always with you".
Cast
- Masayuki Mori as Genjurō
- Machiko Kyō as Lady Wakasa
- Kinuyo Tanaka as Miyagi
- Eitarō Ozawa as Tōbei (as Sakae Ozawa)
- Ikio Sawamura as Genichi
- Mitsuko Mito as Ohama
- Kikue Mōri as Ukon
- Ryōsuke Kagawa as Village Master
- Eigoro Onoe as Knight
- Saburo Date as Vassal
- Sugisaku Aoyama as Old Priest
- Reiko Kongo as Old Woman in Brothel
- Shozo Nanbu as Shinto Priest
- Ichirō Amano as Boatsman
- Kichijirō Ueda as Shop Owner
- Teruko Omi as Prostitute
- Keiko Koyanagi as Prostitute
- Mitsusaburō Ramon as Captain of Tamba Soldiers
- Jun Fujikawa as Lost Soldier
- Ryuuji Fukui as Lost Soldier
- Masayoshi Kikuno as Soldier
- Hajime Koshikawa
- Sugisaka Koyama as High Priest
- Ryuzaburo Mitsuoka as Soldier
- Koji Murata
- Fumihiko Yokoyama
Production
Mizoguchi based his film on two short stories by 19th Century gothic writer Akinari Neda. While writing the script, Mizoguchi told his screenwriter and long time collaborator Yoshikata Yoda "Whether war originates in the ruler's personal motives, or in some public concern, how violence, disguised as war, oppresses and torments the popluace both physically and spiritually...I want to emphasize this as the main theme of the film." During the shooting Yoda was constantly rewriting and revising scenes due to Mizoguchi's perfectionism.
Release and reception
Ugetsu premiered at the 1953 Venice Film Festival. Mizoguchi made his first trip outside of Japan to attend the festival, although he spent most of his time in Italy inside his hotel room praying to a scroll with a portrait of St. Nichiren. While in venice he met director William Wyler, whose film Roman Holiday was also screening in competition at the festival and was rumored be the winner of the Silver Lion for Best Director. At the festival Mizoguchi saw a film shot in 70mm for the first time and was shocked by the experience. According to his friend and collaborator Kaneto Shindo Mizoguchi banged his head against a wall after a screening and began making plans to screen a 70mm film on the front gate of Chionin Temple in Kyoko.
Awards
Ugetsu won the Silver Lion Award for Best Direction at the Venice Film Festival in 1953. The film appeared in Sight and Sound magazine's top ten critics poll of the greatest movies ever made, which is held once every decade, in 1962 and 1972. In 2000, The Village Voice newspaper ranked Ugetsu at #29 on their list of the 100 best films of the 20th century.
Home Video
Ugetsu is now available for viewing on Huluplus, at hulu.com.
On November 8, 2005, Ugetsu became available for the first time on Region 1 DVD when The Criterion Collection released a 2-disc edition of the film, which includes numerous special features such as a 150-minute documentary on Mizoguchi, Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director, directed by Kaneto Shindo. The boxset also includes a booklet with an essay and three short stories from which the film draws inspiration: Akinari Ueda's "The House in the Thicket" and "A Serpent's Lust", and Guy de Maupassant's "How He Got the Legion of Honor".
On April 21, 2008 Ugetsu Monogatari became available in the UK for the first time on Region 2 DVD released by Eureka Entertainment as part of their Masters of Cinema series. The 2 x disc special edition containing new transfers is released in a double pack which twins it with Oyu-Sama (Miss Oyu, 1951).
The box set includes a 64 page booklet, featuring writing by Keiko I. McDonald (author of Mizoguchi and editor of Ugetsu) and award-winning translations of Ueda Akinari’s "The Reed-Choked House" and "A Serpent’s Lust", tales adapted by Mizoguchi in Ugetsu Monogatari. Video lectures on Ugetsu Monogatari and Oyu-sama given by Tony Rayns, an expert on the cinema of the Far East, are included in this edition.
This UK set has been released on Blu-Ray on April 23, 2012 in a Dual Format combo (the DVDs being the same discs than the 2008 release). However, due to the booklet size limitations, it does not includes Keiko I. McDonald essays anymore, but only retains the translations of Ueda Akinari’s short stories.
References
- McDonald, Keiko. Mizoguchi. Boston: Twayne Publishers. 1984. ISBN 0-8057-9295-3. pp. 103-104.
- McDonald. pp. 116.
- McDonald. pp. 104.
- McDonald. pp. 104.
- McDonald. pp. 104.
- "The Criterion Collection: Ugetsu by Kenji Mizoguchi".
External links
- Ugetsu at IMDb
- Template:Amg movie
- Criterion Collection essay by Phillip Lopate
- Template:Ja icon Ugetsu at the Japanese Movie Database
- Ugetsu at Rotten Tomatoes
- Crowther, Bosley (September 8, 1954). "The Screen in Review; Ugetsu, From Japan, Offered at Plaza". The New York Times.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|retrieved=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help)
| Films directed by Kenji Mizoguchi | |
|---|---|
|