The Mizoguchi Masters - so far so good
Mizoguchi is the favourite director of many a "cineaste" - that his films are being put out on dvd by the avowedly cineaste Masters of Cinema label is a dream come true. So far the series is more than living up to expectations.
The format is brilliant - each release contains one classic and one lesser known related film, rather like a main feature and a supporting feature. This is a great (& affordable) way of quickly releasing a representative cross-section of Mizo films. As well as the 2 discs, each release has wonderful packaging & very substantial booklets with lots of photographs, original poster art, essays & translations of the Japanese literary source materials.
The only (minor) criticism I have is of Tony Rayns' short filmed introductions. While I normally respect Mr Rayns, here he merely recounts second-hand gossip about Mizoguchi & film company politics, virtually dismissing the films themselves as hack-work. I'm all for demystification but this is ridiculous!
What about the films? They are all black & white, postwar (40s & 50s). SANSHO & UGETSU are feudal period films, stunningly shot & overwhelming emotional roller-coaster rides. Both are extremely haunting - literally so in the case of UGETSU with its strange supernatural & ghostly elements. Both films are both regularly listed on "greatest films of all time" lists & probably need no introduction. The other main feature CHIKAMATSU MONOGATARI is a bit erratic in tone but still excellent. It's another period film, telling of doomed adulterous lovers on the run who transgress every social code of the time.
I hadn't seen the three "supporting" films before but they turn out to be interesting if uneven. Mizoguchi's most popular films (in the West) are "classical" Japanese period films while his less popular films have modern (C20th) settings. GION BAYASHI and UWASA NO ONNA are both sharp melodramas set in the modern Geisha world of Kyoto and explore the tribulations & sacrifices of the women and the thin line between Geisha and prostitute. UWASA is a particularly striking film with great performances from the actresses & stands comparison with the recently released Naruse films. Arguably these 2 films work better on dvd / small screen whereas SANSHO & UGETSU lose some of their impact away from the cinema. The third supporting film OYU-SAMA is a real melodrama with a storyline that may be of limited appeal. It has some very good scenes & some awkward/dated ones. It is modern but has some evocative "traditional" Japanese scenes and its strange story of a tangled three way obsessional repressed relationship will give Freudians a field day.
Three releases, six films - highly recommended.
Let's start praying that Masters of Cinema get to release epics like Late Chrysanthemums & 49 Ronin and maybe even some of Mizoguchi's incredible 1930s films...

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