These sources share with mizoguchi s work a heightened awareness of. The life of a film director, as well as writing a book published in 1976. A 19thcentury kabuki theatre is the setting for this early kenji mizoguchi masterpiece about a womans selfless sacrifice for her mediocre actor husband. It is a ghost story and an example of the jidaigeki period drama genre, starring masayuki mori and machiko kyo. Ugetsu was one of the first works of reading books yomihon that were published for a smaller. 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.
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 commentary on postwar japan. Ugetsu monogatari has been widely acclaimed as a masterpiece of the japanese cinema since the moment in 1952 when its director, kenji mizoguchi, won a silver lion award for the film at the venice. Without mercy, man is like a beast 100 years of cinema, 100 directors. Born at the end of the 19th century into a wealthy family, mizoguchi s early life. In the civil wars of 16th century japan, two ambitious peasants want to make. The original trailer english subbed in high definition of ugetsu monogatari. In the civil wars of 16th century japan, two ambitious peasants. Ugetsu monogatari by kenji mizoguchi kenji mizoguchi. Kenji mizoguchi, director rutgers films in print book online at best prices in india on. Starring keanu reeves, sandra bullock, and dennis hopper. The title ugetsu monogatari literally rainmoon tales alludes to the belief that mysterious beings appear on cloudy, rainy nights and in mornings. 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. Ugetsu is based on two ghost stories from ueda akinaris collection ugetsu monogatari, which translates to tales of moonlight and rain, and pivots on morals handed down from japanese and chinese cultures.
Mizoguchi s exquisite gender tragedy is set during japans violent 16thcentury civil wars, a. Ugetsu monogatari was the basis for the film ugetsu 1953, directed by mizoguchi kenji. He is, according to the yomiuri shimbun regarded as the dean of japanese filmma. 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. But over time, its hardly ever mentioned or talked about anymore but you still love it. A retrospective series of his thirty surviving films, sponsored by the japan foundation, toured several american cities in 2014. It was one of those movies where you felt you definitely got your moneys worth and when it was. Tales of moonlight and rain work by ueda akinari britannica. 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. Ugetsu, also known as tales of ugetsu or ugetsu monogatari.
No less acclaimed has been its maker, kenji mizoguchi. Audio commentary by critic, filmmaker, and festival programmer tony rayns kenji mizoguchi. Ugetsu monogatari is mizoguchi kenji s 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 wanted. They were also the inspiration for mizoguchi kenjis brilliant 1953 film ugetsu.
In wartorn 16thcentury japan, two men leave their wives to seek wealth and glory in kenji mizoguchi s tragic supernatural classic. O ften 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. 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. Unpopular essays on a popular art, quadrangle books, chicago, 1972, p. This film has always been one of my favorites of this unique japanese director, and it. Kenji mizoguchi and the art of japanese cinema by tadao sato. Ugetsu monogatari 1953, considered one of the finest of. It became famous in the west through kenji mizoguchi s 1953 film by the same title, which focuses on a single narrativefrom aaji go yado the house amid.
Ugetsu by kenji mizoguchi and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Kenji mizoguchi is one of the three acclaimed masterstogether with yasujiro ozu and akira kurosawaof japanese cinema. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. 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. Mizoguchi is cinemas shakespeare, its bach or beethoven, its rembrant, titian or picasso. Mizoguchi s ugetsu monogatari tales of the rain and moon, aka ugetsu is a highly acclaimed masterwork of japanese cinema. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Tales of moonlight and rain columbia university press. With a title sometimes flowerily translated as tales of the pale and silvery moon after the rain, kenji mizoguchi s 1953 film ugetsu monogatari is a lyrical blend of period drama and ghostly fable. Kenji mizoguchi, director rutgers films in print keiko mcdonald 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. If you want or need an answer to this question turn to page 25 of the late mizoguchi boxset booklet and keiko mcdonald will show you why ugetsu is one of mizoguchi s best movies, while donald richie in his many. Like bach, titian, and shakespeare, he is the greatest in his art, enthused the french critic jean douchet. 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.
Online shopping from a great selection at books store. I remember being in the theater watching this in 1994. Ugetsu monogatari has been widely acclaimed as a masterpiece of the japanese. Ugetsu monogatari 1953, considered one of the finest of all japanese films, is an outstanding example of mizoguchi s period drama. Ten years in the making, kenji mizoguchi and the art of japanese cinema is the definitive guide to the life and work of one of the greatest filmmakers of the 20th century. Tales of fog, moonlight, ghosts and rain directed by kenji mizoguchi to show us where greed, vanity and lust could lead you. Ugetsu monogatari je japonski crnobeli fantazijski romanticno dramski film iz leta 1953, ki ga je reziral kendzi mizoguci po scenariju josikate jode in macutara kavagucija. Temelji na zbirki kratkih zgodb ugetsu monogatari uede akinarija iz leta 1776, ki vsebujejo razlicne nadnaravne sile in spadajo v japonski zanr jidaigeki. The 1953 film ugetsu monogatari, or tales of moonlight and rain in english, directed by.
Ueda akinari, the film uses the same elements of traditional japanese mythical creatures and spirits, resulting the film in a fascinating discourse of the realistic and fantastic. Kenji mizoguchi, director rutgers films in print by mcdonald, keiko i. It was first published in 1776, and was adapted from chinese ghost stories. You go to see a movie that becomes one of your alltime favorite films. Kenji mizoguchi 18981956 was a japanese film director most noted for exploring both personal and broad societal issues such as the status of women. Ugetsu monogatari masters of cinema dual format edition. The potter genjuro intends to sell his wares for vast profits in the local city, while. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. Contos da lua vaga ugetsu monogatari, kenji mizoguchi.
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