Through their reflective films, the legendary filmmaker Kenji Mizoguchi managed to portray the place of the female figure in the history of Japan, which is unmissable.
Mizoguchi focused his attention on the role of women in said society, which is why he invites the viewer to reflect on a wide variety of sociopolitical and historical problems of ancient Japan, which are reflected in the mirror of modernity that the director had to live during the first half of the XNUMXth century.
The importance of Kenji Mizoguchi lies in the fact that he is the first filmmaker who shed light on the figure and importance of Woman in the history of Japan.
Three recurring female archetypes can be observed in Mizoguchi's work: the prostitute, the princess, and the priestess.
In order to understand the universe by Kenji Mizoguchi, we will review three of his best films and talk, very broadly, about what makes them so special.
Gion's Sisters
Release year:
1936
What is it about?
The Omocha and Umekichi sisters are two geishas who live in the Gion neighborhood of Kyoto. They embody two opposite poles of the Japanese woman: while Omocha is a modern girl, Umekichi remains a traditional Japanese woman. This contrast is sharpened when the business of the merchant Furusawa, her protector and also a regular customer of hers, goes bankrupt.
ohura's life
Release year:
1952
What is it about?
In XNUMXth century Japan, Oharu, the daughter of a famous samurai, is expelled from the Kyoto court and sentenced to exile for falling in love with a servant. After the execution of her lover, Oharu is forced by her father to become the concubine of a great lord, to whom her wife has been unable to produce an heir. To give a more unfortunate twist to her story, after giving birth, her son is taken away from her and she is expelled from this house.
Empress Yang Kwei-fei
Release year:
1955
What is it about?
Set in XNUMXth century China, Mizoguchi tells the love story between Emperor Hsuan Tsung, a widower for some years, and a young commoner who closely resembles his deceased wife. The Yang family intends to provide the emperor with a consort so that they can consolidate his influence over him after the death of his wife.
To do this, they decide to prepare a relative of General An Lushan who worked in the kitchen, with whom the emperor falls madly in love and turns into a princess: Princess Yang Kwei-fei. The Yang consolidate his influence, but An Lushan is not satisfied with the position in which he has been left, which will motivate him to take action against the Yang.
