Osaka Elegy (1936)

Ayako becomes the mistress of her boss, Mr. Asai, so she can pay her father's debt, and prevent him from going to prison for embezzlement. She also sends money to her brother Hiroshi to pay his university tuition, but her father intercepts it. She tricks Mr. Fujino into giving her money so that she can marry her boyfriend Nishimura, but Fujino calls in the police. (imdb)
Genre: Drama
AKA: Naniwa erejî
Country: Japan
Directed By: Kenji Mizoguchi
Written By: Kenji Mizoguchi, Tadashi Fujiwara
Starring: Takashi Shimura, Isuzu Yamada, Yôko Umemura, Seiichi Takegawa, Chiyoko Ôkura, Shinpachiro Asaka, Benkei Shiganoya

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Osaka Elegy belongs to 16 collections
1. Criterion Collection (public: moderated by caffe - 153 stars)
2. Features under 91 minutes (public: moderated by epiphany - 50 stars)
3. They Shoot Pictures' Recommended Viewing (public: moderated by Cinephile - 18 stars)
4. The Story of Film: An Odyssey (public: moderated by rant1229 - 15 stars)
5. International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers (public: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 9 stars)
6. Eclipse Series (public: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 8 stars)
7. Foreign Language Films subtitled on Youtube (public: moderated by Dunstan-xxx - 2 stars)
8. criticker's underrated (public: moderated by avgcrtckr - 1 star)
9. Osaka (public: moderated by Dunstan-xxx)
10. Keikō-eiga (public: moderated by tirefeet)
11. Tom's Movies (private: tomwalsh)
12. Filmstruck (private: caffe)
13. old Japan (private: kendell)
14. September 2017 (private: kendell)
15. Kenji Mizoguchi (private: kendell)
16. Films Dunstan Owns (private: Dunstan-xxx)
Browse the full list of collections
Date | User | Rating | |
Nov 04, 2020 | ![]() |
DarrenCB | 90 85% |
Nov 03, 2020 | Edueccì | 80 94% |
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Nov 02, 2020 | ![]() |
Yiannos | 65 57% |
Early 'fallen women' Mizoguchi may lack the technical sophistication and thematic refinement of his later works, but it is one of his darkest looking films, and it has many virtues for those keen enough to seek out an early example of his trademark style. The performances are uniformly good and the tragedy has some impact and force, if less so than in superior films such as The Crucified Lovers or The Life of Oharu.
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Oct 06, 2020 | ![]() |
Carlospro | 75 64% |
Sep 28, 2020 | ![]() |
Opio | 70 76% |
Sep 27, 2020 | UgDemirelce | 72 59% |
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Sep 05, 2020 | nunobar | 60 39% |
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Aug 04, 2020 | hertzfeldts | 72 74% |
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Jul 31, 2020 | placestogo | 59 57% |
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59.4.
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Jun 11, 2020 | flipperrbm | 5 60% |
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Apr 22, 2020 | ![]() |
M_A | 75 70% |
Apr 22, 2020 | ![]() |
Woody92 | 82 33% |
Apr 22, 2020 | ![]() |
jal90 | 80 69% |
Apr 17, 2020 | empire434 | 77 73% |
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Mar 22, 2020 | ![]() |
CaoShaoqin | 0 34% |
Feb 26, 2020 | ![]() |
Hyperion+ | 5 83% |
Feb 02, 2020 | tammineni () | 70 40% |
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Dec 06, 2019 | GLADos | 76 70% |
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Jun 27, 2019 | mbramhald13 | 70 47% |
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Jun 13, 2019 | CesarCastag (CinePlayers.com) | 90 85% |
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Jun 10, 2019 | Grandaddy | 63 40% |
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May 28, 2019 | ![]() |
kendell | 6 42% |
May 19, 2019 | ![]() |
Oliveira | 80 68% |
Apr 23, 2019 | AHALE80 | 60 9% |
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Mar 05, 2019 | mate_cosido | 70 40% |
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Feb 24, 2019 | napolenbrady | 87 49% |
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86.50
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Jan 03, 2019 | knives | 70 35% |
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Dec 28, 2018 | FraGil | 70 49% |
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Dec 01, 2018 | ![]() |
Dennis Li | 4 90% |
Oct 31, 2018 | ![]() |
skinnylegend | 60 54% |
Sep 27, 2018 | Coheed | 70 59% |
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Sep 18, 2018 | ![]() |
hotsake | 70 71% |
This was exactly what you'd expect from a Kenji Mizoguchi film. Disgraced women, weak men, impossible situations. This is also well paced brilliantly acted and masterfully directed. The ending was a bit abrupt but the film kept me engaged the entire run time.
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Sep 10, 2018 | filmcave | 75 53% |
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Jul 15, 2018 | bigoomp | 20 53% |
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Jun 02, 2018 | allneonslike | 70 67% |
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May 11, 2018 | ![]() |
normatic | 80 85% |
May 08, 2018 | brennanc | 13 47% |
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May 07, 2018 | Siegel Hans | 70 57% |
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May 01, 2018 | John Milton | 70 61% |
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Apr 24, 2018 | ![]() |
deleuze | 74 42% |
Mar 09, 2018 | ![]() |
scott.mcc | 70 63% |
Feb 24, 2018 | ![]() |
lucbapt | 83 59% |
Jan 15, 2018 | Philosofem | 79 71% |
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Dec 20, 2017 | Systematicer | 60 45% |
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Nov 23, 2017 | Hennimore | 67 33% |
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Sep 01, 2017 | ![]() |
RavynLoony | 70 83% |
Jul 24, 2017 | tomatwork | 10 6% |
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Mar 19, 2017 | Andras | 60 26% |
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Mar 11, 2017 | ![]() |
RYM-byrates | 67 68% |
Feb 19, 2017 | ![]() |
jmorley | 86 71% |
Feb 01, 2017 | ![]() |
TreyAtwood | 70 44% |
Jan 25, 2017 | ![]() |
Mikadzuki | 60 33% |
Jan 20, 2017 | darius | 71 15% |
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Jan 20, 2017 | 8505144 | 71 48% |
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Nov 28, 2016 | Ronin22 | 67 82% |
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Nov 07, 2016 | jerrywarton | 66 58% |
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Aug 07, 2016 | ![]() |
Damirageir | 53 68% |
Jul 04, 2016 | MrWhiplash | 80 55% |
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Jun 05, 2016 | ![]() |
letterboxdvo | 36 66% |
Apr 29, 2016 | ![]() |
rafaelbastos | 80 45% |
Mar 06, 2016 | Alkira | 40 2% |
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Feb 23, 2016 | ![]() |
FrancoGonzo | 15 79% |
Star Rating: ★★★★
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Jan 05, 2016 | ![]() |
micmac | 63 49% |
Dec 31, 2015 | ![]() |
MUBIvotes | 39 81% |
Dec 31, 2015 | ![]() |
zingiberacea | 88 86% |
Dec 15, 2015 | ![]() |
robot2xl | 73 48% |
Dec 01, 2015 | ![]() |
auhasarderik | 6 40% |
Nov 27, 2015 | coroner | 70 66% |
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Aug 28, 2015 | Funkypanda11 | 75 23% |
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Jul 15, 2015 | thirdeye42 | 76 71% |
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Jun 18, 2015 | ![]() |
Dumbwill | 60 26% |
Jun 18, 2015 | ![]() |
russalka | 89 89% |
Jun 08, 2015 | ![]() |
jackinthebox | 80 79% |
May 19, 2015 | zetes | 70 39% |
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May 09, 2015 | khanbaliq2 | 90 74% |
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Apr 24, 2015 | si-sak | 60 47% |
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Apr 24, 2015 | OldAle1 | 90 82% |
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Apr 18, 2015 | ![]() |
peekingpanda | 65 79% |
Mar 16, 2015 | ![]() |
xinet | 73 70% |
Mar 10, 2015 | ![]() |
fabiovisnadi | 88 74% |
Jan 27, 2015 | ![]() |
sodr2 | 70 54% |
Jan 19, 2015 | ![]() |
theWizard | 8 77% |
Jan 17, 2015 | ![]() |
Empathy | 34 3% |
Dec 08, 2014 | 10kfilms | 80 76% |
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Nov 12, 2014 | ![]() |
backwardsuit | 79 77% |
Not always subtle but consistently even-handed and generally very well made all around. Especially for the time.
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Aug 05, 2014 | ![]() |
MoonLoop | 82 47% |
Jun 30, 2014 | estragon | 80 79% |
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Jun 30, 2014 | ![]() |
Fuentissimo | 46 50% |
Jun 01, 2014 | themagician | 70 44% |
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May 18, 2014 | debaser1985 | 65 40% |
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Apr 21, 2014 | ![]() |
PerryStroika | 67 77% |
Interesting as one of the earlier surviving examples of the Japanese left leaning woman's picture of which Mizoguchi was an early pioneer.
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Apr 18, 2014 | ![]() |
Parallax | 92 97% |
That deep focus is really astonishing and some of the places Mizoguchi puts the camera really gets me too. Ayako's a great character and watching Isuzu Yamada sells the dichotomy of the freedom and entrapment of the "modern" woman
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Mar 26, 2014 | readingowl | 80 50% |
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Mar 22, 2014 | ![]() |
kyvetti | 62 61% |
Mar 21, 2014 | ![]() |
patrickped | 80 73% |
Feb 25, 2014 | Dicke_Taube | 70 61% |
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Feb 24, 2014 | ![]() |
nothings | 58 43% |
Jan 30, 2014 | ![]() |
lostty | 70 29% |
Jan 22, 2014 | leftmostcat | 84 46% |
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Jan 07, 2014 | ![]() |
fact100 | 79 86% |
Dec 09, 2013 | ![]() |
drstrangeluv | 80 77% |
Dec 05, 2013 | ![]() |
Hans_Lucas | 80 53% |
Oct 11, 2013 | Timmer | 79 75% |
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Sep 21, 2013 | Simon M. | 36 7% |
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Sep 16, 2013 | ![]() |
Limdebois | 60 33% |
Sep 02, 2013 | ![]() |
GrimsChild | 60 76% |
Aug 23, 2013 | PUNQ | 60 90% |
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A delightful moral tragedy from Kenji Mizoguchi about a girl that becomes the mistress of her boss to pay off her fathers embezzlement so he don't have to go to jail. Our poor unfortunate girl Isuzu Yamada has a love of her life, but of course her choice being with the old man stands in the way of their romance. And then she makes more foolish choices.... It did lack that little something to really make the story alluring, but there was always some to grasp ones attention in Mizoguchi direction.
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Jul 23, 2013 | yukiaditya () | 93 67% |
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Jul 07, 2013 | Kilgore | 70 70% |
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Jul 04, 2013 | ![]() |
kafkalamak | 81 78% |
May 10, 2013 | ![]() |
3rdman | 7 52% |
Feb 18, 2013 | willow | 60 42% |
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Feb 13, 2013 | Batmite | 70 65% |
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Jan 31, 2013 | ![]() |
sergebarber | 60 50% |
Jan 14, 2013 | ![]() |
rant1229 | 34 85% |
Dec 06, 2012 | ![]() |
Dorkovsky | 6 78% |
Oct 26, 2012 | ![]() |
Communicants | 80 73% |
Oct 10, 2012 | gleeb | 74 59% |
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Aug 19, 2012 | Antoine | 84 72% |
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Jul 29, 2012 | ![]() |
B-Side | 80 79% |
Jul 28, 2012 | ![]() |
Veterini | 60 19% |
Apr 09, 2012 | ![]() |
Scottathon | 64 25% |
Feb 24, 2012 | ![]() |
Dunstan-xxx | 78 83% |
Jan 21, 2012 | ![]() |
Magmadiver | 89 82% |
Dec 18, 2011 | ![]() |
matty5190 | 78 31% |
Nov 29, 2011 | strangelime | 90 82% |
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Nov 02, 2011 | ![]() |
avgcrtckr | 67 82% |
Oct 18, 2011 | BaalMan | 85 75% |
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Aug 10, 2011 | Jazzaloha | 70 68% |
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Solid, but perhaps not great. It almost feels like social commentary--specifically on the Japanese notion of an ideal woman. There's just a hint of bitterness and resentment at the end--mixed with a bit of defiance, perhaps (when Ayako looks into the camera). Well, I felt a little resentful towards Ayako's family, anyway. Like many great Japanese filmmakers, the compositions are impeccable--almost to the point where the perfection is oppressive, too square.
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Jul 06, 2011 | stailea | 88 68% |
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Jun 12, 2011 | ![]() |
ericdupont | 75 58% |
Jun 08, 2011 | Multiman1985 | 84 23% |
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Jun 04, 2011 | ![]() |
frg | 10 95% |
Apr 30, 2011 | ![]() |
FlixR8r | 77 81% |
Mar 22, 2011 | ![]() |
AtGiza | 76 74% |
Dec 03, 2010 | ![]() |
Mr. Mxyzptlk | 100 0% |
Oct 13, 2010 | ![]() |
b4con | 80 52% |
Sep 28, 2010 | ![]() |
JerryJ | 80 78% |
Sep 22, 2010 | ![]() |
shlebede | 75 42% |
Aug 23, 2010 | ![]() |
IMDb-byvotes | 76 74% |
Aug 20, 2010 | ![]() |
JooJoo | 3 30% |
Aug 14, 2010 | ![]() |
kastenm | 68 49% |
Jul 25, 2010 | ![]() |
billkerwin | 81 48% |
Well-photographed, with gorgeous, ominous shadows, ably directed, competently edited, and filled with understanding and compassion for the plight of its heroine. The reasons for her fall, however, are too stereotypically noble and her family too callous and unsympathetic to raise this much above the level of melodrama. (I liked seeing Takahashi Shimura in a small role as one of the cops.)
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Jun 30, 2010 | ![]() |
Inframan | 96 85% |
Jun 25, 2010 | comanchex | 80 69% |
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Jun 23, 2010 | ![]() |
joseywales | 75 73% |
It's hard to sympathize with Ayako when she makes wrong decision after wrong decision and then becomes indignant about it, but the story is almost flawlessly done and Mizoguchi already has a firm grasp of his style.
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Jun 17, 2010 | ![]() |
ze_qualquer | 60 63% |
May 22, 2010 | ![]() |
Johau | 99 80% |
May 22, 2010 | ![]() |
jeff_v | 68 53% |
May 17, 2010 | tcl.polley | 0 0% |
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Apr 22, 2010 | katsuben | 4 62% |
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Apr 12, 2010 | ![]() |
omglol | 78 69% |
Apr 08, 2010 | hayabusa | 85 76% |
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Apr 05, 2010 | ![]() |
Taliban | 25 33% |
Mar 15, 2010 | jsim596 | 3 48% |
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Feb 28, 2010 | ![]() |
andagh | 75 45% |
Notable for its early Takashi Shimura role and the ending which has obvious similarities to a certain well known Italian movie.
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Jan 20, 2010 | onetwothree | 60 66% |
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Jan 19, 2010 | Eddie Yang | 83 60% |
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Jan 08, 2010 | kennardjon | 76 64% |
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Dec 27, 2009 | ![]() |
kokirijazz | 4 63% |
Dec 03, 2009 | cinebaixar | 84 70% |
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Nov 21, 2009 | col. dax | 65 46% |
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Sep 13, 2009 | negative | 3 0% |
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Jun 02, 2009 | ozufan | 70 39% |
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May 10, 2009 | rebekkakate | 0 38% |
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Apr 17, 2009 | ![]() |
imdb | 77 89% |
Apr 11, 2009 | ![]() |
Theodora | 80 71% |
Mar 29, 2009 | demonhatesme | 88 66% |
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Mar 22, 2009 | ![]() |
Dally | 95 95% |
Mar 09, 2009 | rudolf55 | 84 55% |
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Feb 20, 2009 | ![]() |
filmaffinity | 70 81% |
Feb 13, 2009 | abowloffire | 75 36% |
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Jan 05, 2009 | ![]() |
Nathan S | 3 46% |
Even in '36, Mizoguchi's technique is quite apparent. His feminine sensibilities are very sympathetic, especially against the backdrop of a society that has very certain expectations of women. Even so, those depicted here are not presented as flawless, and that ratchets the believability and sympathy up another notch. Lots of long takes and elegant pans give it a somber tone.
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Dec 31, 2008 | ![]() |
Tizzy | 83 78% |
Dec 02, 2008 | spicebrain | 92 87% |
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Nov 18, 2008 | ![]() |
Jos | 77 49% |
Nov 15, 2008 | Houndowl | 58 19% |
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Nov 08, 2008 | ![]() |
MartinTeller | 80 66% |
Five years ago I was head over heels for Mizoguchi, and lately I've become somewhat indifferent towards him. Maybe it's because I saw all the "major" films first and now I'm just getting into the "lesser" works. Having said that, there's nothing terribly wrong with this movie. Ayako's descent is well-charted and believable given her circumstances, and the story's dramatic elements hold up well. The cinematography is quite fine with long perspective shots and Mizoguchi's signature dolly moves.
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Oct 24, 2008 | ![]() |
sidehacker | 65 42% |
Aug 24, 2008 | coltrane | 5 69% |
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Jul 04, 2008 | purity | 2 60% |
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Jun 14, 2008 | volver | 65 54% |
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May 02, 2008 | ![]() |
flowing | 73 89% |
Apr 23, 2008 | ![]() |
kangadoodoo | 65 66% |
Aug 31, 2007 | ![]() |
Moribunny | 43 30% |
It's not terrible but try as I might, I just couldn't get into it that much.
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Jan 03, 2007 | Madstone | 92 67% |
Average Percentile 59.88% from 186 Ratings | ![]() |