Ugetsu Monogatari / Oyu-Sama Reviews

[Highly rated reviewer]

Masterful stuff

Since 'Ugetsu monogatori' has been widely celebrated, and, as another poster on this page confirms, remains one of cinema's most bewitching ghost stories, it may be worth spending a few words on its companion disc in this set, 'Miss Oyu'. Almost unknown prior to this release, it turns out to be a marvellous story of doomed love in the first quarter of the twentieth century, with a shy young man falling for the sister of the woman it has been arranged he should marry. When she reciprocates his passion, it is clear that no-one is going to be very happy. Mizoguchi steers well clear of soap opera, despite the flaws in the story, and creates a gentle, delicate atmosphere of three people whose lives are doomed never to come together successfully. It's a lovely film, directed with something approaching brilliance in the compositions and framing (note how the backgrounds all rhyme with the increasingly prison-like nature of the characters' emotions), poignant and moving.

Brilliant

this is truly cinemas greatest ghost story

Ugetsu Ghost story full of pathos and surprise

I loved Oharu and Lady of Musashino and this one has the same mixture of tragic lifestory historical pageantry strangeness inscrutability and pathos, closer to Miyazaki and Spirited Away than to Kurosawa or even Ozu.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Oyu-sama review, 3 into 2 wont go

A film made for the burgeoning female audience of the late 40's/early 50's, 2 sisters really care for each othe, the older one Oyu is widowed and has a chil the younger one is still single. A prospective bridegroom comes to meet her but sees and falls for the older one, the strictures of the times mean that she needs permission from her in-laws to remarry and he would be cast out by his family for marrying a widow in any case. The couped accept each other, both for the same reason of being able to be close to Oyu. The story carries on in melo-dramatic style and raises questions of selfishness and selflessness, did the couple marry for their own selfish reasons or out of a certain selflessness to the other ? Goes along quite well and the accompanying documentary gives more insights into the background of the movie.

Ugetsu Monogatari

Just like all the films in this genre you either love them or loathe them. As I love them this film ticks all the correct boxes. Story telling at its very best, always bleak and hard hitting like the very best of the 'KItchen sink' dramas of the sixties. No guarentee of a happy ending, but stories that will keep you interested right up until the final credits.