Mizoguchi top 10
Submitted by kenji on Wed, 02/02/2005 - 04:27
Tags:
- 1.Sansho the Bailiff
- 2.Tales of the Taira Clan
- 3.Story of the Late Chrysanthemums
- 4.Ugetsu Monogatari
- 5.The Life of Oharu
- 6.The Loyal 47 Ronin
- 7.Miss Oyu
- 8.Lady of Musashino
- 9.Chikamatsu Monogatari
- 10.Yang Kwei Fei
Nice list! I haven't even seen ten Mizoguchi's, let alone enough to compile a top ten.
I would also put "Sansho the Bailiff" at the top of my list, followed closely by "Ugetsu", "Gion Festival Music", "Life of Oharu", and "Empress Yang Kwei Fei".
I didn't much care for "Lady of Musashino" though. Really really want to see "Tales of the Taira Clan" and "Story of the Late Chrysanthemums".
I'm always delighted when someone's seen any Mizoguchi. He's terribly neglected. I've seen under half his films still in existence (never mind all those that have been lost) and i'm a fan!
Story of the Late Chrysanthemums is on video in the US, Taira Clan on video in the UK. But so few on dvd- except for 2 box sets in France (but with French not English subtitles).
Oh i forgot to say, check out David Bordwell's website for an article on Mizoguchi, supplemnting his new book Figures Traced in Light which studies Mizo, Hou, Angelopoulos and Feuillade (none exactly household names). In the summer Mark le Fanu's book Mizoguchi and Japan will be out.
I really wish Mizoguchi were more readily available for home viewing as well. I've only seen one movie by him - Ugetsu - but I loved it. I'm aching to see Sansho the Bailiff.