May 16 - Kenji Mizoguchi

Happy Birthday, Kenji Mizoguchi! Born today in 1898, this Japanese editor, screenwriter and film director's work is renowned for its long takes and mise-en-scène. According to writer Mark Le Fanu, "His films have an extraordinary force and purity. 

  

During the 1930s, Mizoguchi was best known for directing the 1939 Japanese black and white drama film 'Zangiku Monogatari' ('The Story of the Late Chrysanthemums'). 

During the 1950s, Mizoguchi was best known for directing the 1953 Japanese black and white romantic drama fantasy/war film 'Ugetsu Monogatari' ('Tales of Ugetsu'), and the 1954 Japanese black and white drama/jidaigeki ("period drama") film 'Sanshō Dayū' ('Sansho the Bailiff'). 

The first film tells of Kikunosuke Onoue (Shotaro Hanayagi). He was adopted as an infant by a legendary kabuki actor Kikugoro Onoue (Gonjurō Kawarazaki), and is being groomed to follow in his theatrical footsteps.  

Though his fellow troupe members publicly praise him, they privately sneer at his lackluster performances. Otoku (Kakuko Mori), his stepbrother's wet nurse, is the only one willing to tell Kikunosuke the truth.  

However, when his father fires Otoku, Kikunosuke leaves home and, with Otoku's encouragement, tries to become a great actor. 

The second film is a ghost story set in 16th century Japan. Peasants Genjūrō (Masayuki Mori) and Tōbei (Eitaro Ozawa) sell their earthenware pots to a group of soldiers in a nearby village. 

This is in defiance of a local sage's warning against seeking to profit from warfare.  

Genjūrō's pursuit of both riches and the mysterious Lady Wakasa (Machiko Kyō), as well as Tōbei's desire to become a samurai, run the risk of destroying both themselves and their wives, Miyagi (Kinuyo Tanaka) and Ohama (Mitsuko Mito). 

The third film is set during the Heian period of feudal Japan. It follows the virtuous but banished governor Zushiō (Yoshiaki Hanayagi) and his sister Anju (Kyōko Kagawa).  

  

While on a journey to visit their father, they are attacked and separated from their mother, Tamaki (Kinuyo Tanaka). They are later sold as slaves to an estate managed by the brutal Sanshō (Eitarō Shindō).  

The children grow up as slaves on the estate. However,  when Anju hears a newly acquired slave singing a song that mentions their names, they realize that their mother may still be alive and make plans to find her. 

  

'Sansho the Bailiff' had been based on the eponymous short story by Japanese Lieutenant-General, Army surgeon general officer, translator, novelist, poet Mori Rintarō (known by his pen name Mori Ōgai). Rintarō was also the father of famed Japanese author Mari Mori. 

  

The film bears many of Mizoguchi's hallmarks, such as portrayals of poverty, a critical view of the place of women in contemporary Japan, and elaborately choreographed long takes, shot by Japanese cinematographer Kazuo Miyagawa, Mizoguchi's regular collaborator.  

  

Today, the film is often ranked alongside 'Ugetsu''as one of Mizoguchi's finest works and a milestone in Japanese filmmaking history. 

  

In the British Film Institute's 2012 Sight & Sound polls, 'Sansho the Bailiff' came in at 59th in the critics' poll, with twenty-five critics having voted for the film. 

American film critic, historian, journalist, screenwriter, and author Roger Ebert called it "one of the best of all Japanese films[...]." 

  

Today, Mizoguchi is one of the most acclaimed filmmakers in cinema history. 

  

Also known as Goteken, Mizoguchi had been active from 1923–1956. 

  

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