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The Life Of Oharu Reviews

1952

70
from 1332 members

The story chronicles the decline through exile, concubinage and prostitution of Oharu Okui. Her sufferings and treatment are analysed until she is finally discarded like an inanimate object. Japanese dialogue with subtitles. Read more

Starring	Kinuyo Tanaka, Toshiro Mifune
Director	Kenji Mizoguchi
Genres	Drama, World Cinema

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Critic's review of The Life Of Oharu
View all critics' reviews (2)
- This chronicle of the decline of a woman, from service in the imperial court of 17th-century Japan through exile,... read more on Time Out
- 46472
- - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:16
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Most helpful member's review of The Life Of Oharu
View all members' reviews (17)
- - 11
  - 0
  Stange and moving
  
  This is one of those films that stays with you long after the final credits have gone. It seemed to me to be very Japanese and yet at the same time universal in... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 420779
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Zamy
  - 546 reviews
  - London
  - 16 Mar 2007 at 12:41
Most recent members' reviews of The Life Of Oharu
View all members' reviews (17)
- - 0
  - 0
  So little more to ask!
  
  This is almost a lost film ... and it is desperately, almost unendurably, sad. Oharu is betrayed, failed, cast away at every step. No happy endings. There can ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1005553
- - Nigel Wilson
  - Helmsley, North Riding of Yorkshire
  - 16 Jun 2011 at 12:23
- - 1
  - 0
  Pure emotional electricity
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  In my unhumble opinion, this is the quintessence of Mizoguchi's genius.
  
  Based on a seventeenth century novel by writer Iharu Saikaku, the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 947558
- - BrindleyBeBarassedboutBombsquare
  - 43 reviews
  - Cardiff
  - 17 Dec 2010 at 21:12
- - 0
  - 2
  Tragedy to farce
  
  A young girl's first lover is beheaded and she and her family are exiled. Then she is selected to provide an heir to a clan lord: the problem is that he ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 928696
- - a customer
  - West Midlands, England
  - 03 Oct 2010 at 21:47
- - 0
  - 0
  Theatrical
  
  Very Japanese. Theatrical and very elegant. But also fascinating.
  
  Report this review
- 740313
- - a customer
  - Langport
  - 08 Apr 2009 at 21:37
- - 0
  - 0
  Make it again
  
  It's a fine story but the altogether theatrical nature of it's telling reduced the impact of a whole raft of human emotion . For lovers of oriental ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 683996
- - a customer
  - Devizes
  - 08 Jan 2009 at 22:39
- - 0
  - 0
  Customer Review
  
  We were constantly surprised by the turns and twists in this movie...certainly not a Hollywood film or ending! Give it a try!
  
  Report this review
- 580233
- - a customer
  - UK
  - 23 Jun 2008 at 15:22
- - 0
  - 0
  Life of Oharu
  
  With a slow start, if you hang on, I found it developed into an intense film, keeping you in suspense until the very last.
  
  Report this review
- 576477
- - a customer
  - Neath
  - 15 Jun 2008 at 19:13
- - 2
  - 0
  One of the all time greats.
  
  A magnificent film.
  
  For those who think that all the great films need American accents with Bruce Willis in a slightly dirty vest, watch this little ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 516995
- - Robert Dawson
  - Cardiiff Wales ( Born Liverpool)
  - 23 Jan 2008 at 22:47
- - 1
  - 0
  The most perfect heartbreaker in all cinema
  
  Although nominally set in late seventeenth century Japan, Mizoguchi's characteristically feminist epic is actually about the role and position women in ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 459363
- - Savage
  - 632 reviews
  - London, England
  - 18 Jul 2007 at 11:04
- - 11
  - 0
  Stange and moving
  
  This is one of those films that stays with you long after the final credits have gone. It seemed to me to be very Japanese and yet at the same time universal in... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 420779
- - Zamy
  - 546 reviews
  - London
  - 16 Mar 2007 at 12:41
View all members' reviews (17)

- - 11
  - 0
  Stange and moving
  
  This is one of those films that stays with you long after the final credits have gone. It seemed to me to be very Japanese and yet at the same time universal in... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 420779
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Zamy
  - 546 reviews
  - London
  - 16 Mar 2007 at 12:41
- - 4
  - 0
  japanese melodrama
  
  The story of a girl whos life starts going wrong after she falls for a man of lower rank, she goes through highs followed by lows and ends up as a prostitute. ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 12278
- - Saty
  - Reading
  - 25 Jul 2004 at 22:25
- - 4
  - 0
  great
  
  Fantastic window into pre-modern, feudal Japanese world, plus great sympathetic humanistic portrait of a woman who dares to question (duh -- male) authority and... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 18392
- - a customer
  - London
  - 15 Sep 2004 at 23:34
- - 2
  - 0
  One of the all time greats.
  
  A magnificent film.
  
  For those who think that all the great films need American accents with Bruce Willis in a slightly dirty vest, watch this little ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 516995
- - Robert Dawson
  - Cardiiff Wales ( Born Liverpool)
  - 23 Jan 2008 at 22:47
- - 1
  - 0
  Captivating mixture of Buddhist calm and intensity
  
  The Life of Oharu gets off to a slow start, but before long I was gripped by this sensitive and deeply sad story of a woman who is at the mercy of the warriors ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 111718
- - Gloria McShane
  - Darlington, England
  - 07 Jun 2005 at 11:22
- - 1
  - 0
  Fabulous film.
  
  This film has stayed with me. It has a lasting effect because it is so poignant. Oharu has a life so full of twists and turns, so many ups and downs. It is a ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 341103
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - xxstarburstxx
  - 9 reviews
  - East Coast
  - 18 Jul 2005 at 08:23
- - 1
  - 0
  The most perfect heartbreaker in all cinema
  
  Although nominally set in late seventeenth century Japan, Mizoguchi's characteristically feminist epic is actually about the role and position women in ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 459363
- - Savage
  - 632 reviews
  - London, England
  - 18 Jul 2007 at 11:04
- - 1
  - 0
  Pure emotional electricity
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  In my unhumble opinion, this is the quintessence of Mizoguchi's genius.
  
  Based on a seventeenth century novel by writer Iharu Saikaku, the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 947558
- - BrindleyBeBarassedboutBombsquare
  - 43 reviews
  - Cardiff
  - 17 Dec 2010 at 21:12
- - 0
  - 0
  Not for the uninitiated...
  
  There's no doubting the quality of this film, and it is heart-wrenchingly (as well as unabatedly!)sad. The performances in it are exceptional. There are a ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 194694
- - a customer
  - Bath, England
  - 16 Jan 2006 at 16:29
- - 0
  - 0
  Mesmerising Tragedy
  
  A veritable Japanese classic. It has the scope of a Shakespearean tragedy and sombre visuals to boot. It is a fascinating insight into Japanese history and ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 233014
- - Peter
  - Oxford
  - 14 Apr 2006 at 19:40

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- The Life Of Oharu
  
  The story chronicles the decline through exile, concubinage and prostitution of Oharu Okui. Her sufferings and treatment are analysed until she is finally discarded like an inanimate object. Japanese dialogue with subtitles....