I loved the way this is shot; it really feels like you're peering around corners and eavesdropping on conversations. There are a few moments where it feels a little slight, even at 70 minutes.

I did not know what to expect from this but I was pleasantly surprised at the steady filmmaking at display here. Thematically it is sort of outdated, but it's still a good story where you care about the characters (much thanks to the performances), and although it is very predictable how it all will end the creative changes of camera angles keeps things interesting and alive.

It seems like Mizoguchi is trying to say something about old Japan vs. a recently modernized Japan, though I'm not entirely sure on that. At times it feeds you its themes all too obviously, with the two sisters bickering with blatant comments about how the each other's outlook is wrong. Mizoguchi's aesthetics are great though, and I like Isuzu Yamada. A well made movie, but I just couldn't get into this one.

Tends to feel more like Mizoguchi finding his footing with the subject matter.

The story of two geisha sisters, one caring and loyal, the other manipulative and opportunistic. As you can imagine with Mizoguchi, neither approach works out that well for them. This doesn't have the emotional impact (or the technical ability) of later films like A Geisha or Life of Oharu, but it's pretty sophisticated for 1936. It seems rather simple and drab to begin with, but gradually builds into something more thoughtful and moving.