British distributors Eureka Entertainment have officially announced and detailed their upcoming Dual Format Edition of director Kenji Mizoguchi's
Ugetsu Monogatari (1953). Also included on this release as a bonus is the Japanese director's little seen early film
Oyū-sama a.k.a
Miss Oyu (1951). Street date is April 23rd.
Special Features:
- Newly restored high-definition transfer of Ugetsu Monogatari
- Mizoguchi's Oyū-sama (also in 1080p on the Blu-ray)
- Optional English subtitles on both features
- Tony Rayns video discussions of Ugetsu Monogatari [9:00] and Oyū-sama [13:00]
- Original Japanese and Spanish theatrical trailers for Ugetsu Monogatari
- Ugetsu Monogatari restoration demonstration
- Illustrated booklet featuring rare archival imagery and award-winning translations of the 18th century Ueda Akinari stories adapted in Ugetsu Monogatari
Mizoguchi's
Ugetsu Monogatari (
Tales of the Rain and Moon a.k.a
Ugetsu is a highly acclaimed masterwork of Japanese cinema. Based on a pair of 18th century ghost stories by Ueda Akinari, the film's release continued Mizoguchi's introduction to the West, where it was nominated for an Oscar and won the the Venice Film Festival's Silver Lion award (for Best Direction).
In 16th century Japan, amidst the pandemonium of civil war, potter Genjūrō (Mori Masayuki) and samurai-aspirant Tobei (Ozawa Sakae) set out with their wives in search of wealth and military glory respectively. Two parallel tales ensue when the men are lured from their wives: Genjūrō by the ghostly charm of Lady Wakasa (Kyo Machiko); Tobei by the dream of military glory.
Famed for its meticulously orchestrated long takes and its subtle blending of realistic period reconstruction and lyrical supernaturalism,
Ugetsu Monogatari is an intensely poetic tragedy that consistently features on polls of the best films ever made.