Ugetsu (1953)
I watched Ugetsu, a period piece set during the Japanese Civil Wars in the sixteenth century, for the first time last week.
I watched Ugetsu (1953), a period piece set during the Japanese Civil Wars in the sixteenth century, for the first time last week. A film buff recommended it to me after I mentioned that I recently saw A Ghost Story (2017). Although these films came out at wildly different times and on different continents, they’re both lighter takes on the genre—neither ghost is scary; they’re just kind of there and it’s no big deal. In Ugetsu, we see how two brothers strive for money and fame with their families paying the consequences of their ambitions. Watch for director Kenji Mizoguchi’s “long takes and sweeping camera.” Roger Ebert certified it as a great movie—what more could you ask for? Watch Ugetsu on HBO Max.