UGETSU MONOGATARI

Ugetsu, the 78th film by legendary director Kenji Mizoguchi, is considered by many―including Martin Scorsese and Jean-Luc Godard―to be among his greatest achievements. Based on short stories by Ueda Akinari and Guy de Maupassant, the film is a haunting tale about two men’s obsessive pursuit of wealth and power, and the tragic consequences for their loyal wives. Set in 16th century Japan during a time of civil war, Mizoguchi, an uncompromising perfectionist, insisted on historically accurate production design, wardrobe and props. The constantly moving crane shots suggest a transitory world populated with ghosts, and the director’s signature “flowing scroll” style of long, uninterrupted takes generates a psychological density and hypnotic power.