Like FFD says, Mizoguchi puts corridors and dividers to great use in showing how the geisha lifestyle is, traditionally, all but squirreled away into the smallest, darkest corners.

Excellent work from Mizoguchi, very beautiful and moving and compelling. Wonderful use of curtains and corridors. He really captures female characters better than any other Japanese director I've seen. Very sad that so few of his films are available.

The story and characters are all very interesting as is the account of the difficulties faced by prostitutes and geishas in maintaining their dignity and keeping hold of their personal rights. The ending of the film is very poignant featuring the culmination of this account with one of our two characters expressing her fury at how the system works as well as featuring moments between the two which are very tender and really quite beautiful as they share a sisterly friendship.