The Life of Oharu (Saikaku ichidai onna) [Region 2]
by Kenji Mizoguchi
![The Life of Oharu (Saikaku ichidai onna) [Region 2]](/images/The-Life-of-Oharu-Saikaku-ichidai-onna-Region-2-B0001EYTBG-L.jpg)
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Ichir? Sugai, Kinuyo Tanaka, Toshiaki Konoe, Toshir? Mifune, Tsukie MatsuuraDirector: Kenji Mizoguchi
DVD: Region Code 2
Audio: English (Subtitled); Japanese (Original Language)
Format: PAL
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Movie Reviews of The Life of Oharu (Saikaku ichidai onna) [Region 2]
Movie Review: Examination of Woman's Place In Japanese Society
Summary: 4 Stars
In 1952 Kenji Mizoguchi released Life of Oharu one of his most personal films. The film based on the Ihara novel The Woman Who Loved Love, is also one of the great director's greatest achievements. With its formal style and long tracking shots the film takes some getting used to before being fully appreciated by Western audiences of today. The film takes attention and patience to reveal its intricacies.
Mizoguchi deftly examines the place of women in Japanese society in this film. In fact it was a theme that ran through much of his filmmaking from Osaka Elegy onward. Oharu, beautifully acted by Kinuyo Tanaka, moves in an ever downward spiral for the crime of falling in love with a person below her class. At the opening of the film she is forced to reflect on her life as she stares at statues in a Buddist temple. She began life as a lady in waiting at the Imperial Palace of Kyoto. A youthful indescretion with a court page, Katsunosuke ( Toshiro Mifune) leads to the exile of her entire family. She becomes the concubine of Lord Matsudaira (Toshiaki Konoe) but only for the purpose of bearing him a male heir. After giving birth she is sent away from the palace. She becomes a maid and then as she ages finds short lived hapiness as the wife of a fan maker. His untimely death leads her into a life of prostitution in order to survive.
The story is told with great dignity and never attempts to judge Oharu for her actions. Oharu is simply a part of the society in which she lives.
I viewed this film on the Homevision VHS tape and while not great the picture is adequate. The picture is slightly soft and does not truly do justice to either the material or to the cinematography of Yoshimi Hirano. The English subtitles are burned into the print in white but are quite readable. This is quite rare and welcome on a film of this age.
The film, while somewhat hard to find, is well worth seeking out and is highly recommended.
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