Mizoguchi Films

146. Ugetsu (1953) Mizoguchi. A beautiful, moving movie about an ambitious potter, a farmer who wants to be a Samurai, and ghosts in 16th century Japan. Rating ****

143. Sisters of the Gion 1936 Mizoguchi. A fascinating story set in pre-war Japan about two Geisha's and their relationship with their patrons and themselves. The older sister feels loyalty to an old man who helped -- the younger sister wants to use men since they use her. Only 70 minutes and acting and direction are excellent. The movie held my interest throughout  Rating ***1/2

88. Street of Shame (1956) Mizoguchi. Tale of a Tokyo Brothel and the women whose dreams of escape are shattered by reality. Some great acting (especially Machiko Kyo as "Mickey") and well-directed but the story -as a whole - seems to be a rehash of previous Mizoguchi films. I can't criticize the movie on a technical level, its just seemed predictable. Rating **1/2

128. Women of the Night (1948) Mizoguchi. In postwar Japan, two sisters fall into prostitution and moral chaos. A grim realistic portrait of Prostitution, well acted and fast paced at 75 minutes. The camera work is somewhat primitive and the story has little complexity or subtlety. Mizoguchi was obviously trying to make a social statement. The movie ends with a surprising and powerful Christian image. A good movie but no masterpiece. Rating ***

Osaka Elegy (1936) Mizoguchi. Another in the Criterion's Series on Mizoguchi's Fallen Women. However, the heroine (played by the sympathetic Isuzu Yamada) isn't much of a "fallen woman." The family needs money so she somewhat, kinda agrees to be the mistress of her middle-aged boss. But her heart still belongs to her young boyfriend Mizoguchi takes shots at both Yamada's "modern girl" attitudes and the Boss (and his wife's) western style greed and frivolity. As usual with Mizoguchi films, the men are either weaklings or cads - so it doesn't end well for the good-hearted Yamada. Summary: Well acted and directed but with a tinge of soap opera. Rating ***