Product Details

• Actors: Masayuki Mori, Machiko Kyô, Kinuyo Tanaka, Eitarô Ozawa, Ichisaburo Sawamura
• Directors: Kenji Mizoguchi
• Writers: Akinari Ueda, Kyûchi Tsuji, Matsutarô Kawaguchi, Yoshikata Yoda
• Producers: Masaichi Nagata
• Format: Black & White, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
• Language: Japanese
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Criterion Collection
• DVD Release Date: November 8, 2005
• Run Time: 94 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000BB14I0
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,672 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Ugetsu (The Criterion Collection)" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

UGETSU - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "I desire nothing but you with me.", July 14, 2005

By 

Dymon Enlow "Dymon Enlow" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ugetsu [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Profound in its sadness UGETSU is the heartbreaking story of two dirt poor villagers back in 16th century Japan. Both are married and have wives who love them just the way they are, but both men are blinded to their wives' love by envy. One to be rich the other to be a great warrior. They think that if they attain these goals they will find happiness and their wives will love them more - but that is already impossible.

Both men are granted their wishes but it doesn't bring them happiness. In fact it brings them and their wives more pain and grief then they ever knew existed. In the end they realize the happiness they had to begin with, but is it too late?

Perfect in every way, I consider this not only among the greatest films, but also one of the most important. There is a great lesson to learn here about appreciating the true happiness that might be right in front of you or already inside you.

Criterion: a Mizoguchi box set please.

52 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What are the Important Things in Life?, April 11, 2004

By 

Randy Keehn (Williston, ND United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ugetsu [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Despite some disturbing scenes and issues, this is a beautiful movie. It tells the story of how the search for money and glory can destroy true happiness. What makes the story work is a lot of different things. First of all, the acting is very good. Watching in in subtitles (there wasn't any other option) helped with appreciating this facet of the movie. The scenery and costumes were pretty good as well. The directing was what was the most outstanding. I confess that I have a problem with most modern movies in that they show a heavy dependance on modern technology and declining moral standards. This enables modern films to utilize two avenues of showing more and more which leaves less and less to the imagination. The talent on display in "Ugetsu" shows how directing at its' best was a true art form; greater, often, than the acting itself. There are several scenes that come to mind. As soldiers rape and pillage, there comes a scene of a gang rape of a woman. Everything we see on film makes it clear in our minds as to what has taken place. Yet the only clothing we see removed is a pair of sandals. Another scene involves an erotic encounter in which, again we understand clearly yet are not invited to watch. There are other scenes worthy of mention but I don't want to give anything away. The way this movie moves along is another testament to its' director; Kenji Mizoguchi.

On the negative side, this movie is currently only available on VHS. I confess to being frustrated with all of my Beta movies and now all of my VHS movies seeming to head towards obsolescence. However, I have come to appreciate the quality as well as the other features of DVD's. Thus I found myself immediately focussing on the occassional snap, crackle, and pop of the VHS quality. Still, once I was engrossed in the story (and that didn't take long to happen), it either ceased to bother me or the quality improved and the movie progressed.

There is a timeless message in this movie that will reach out to just about all viewers. It has to do with identifying our values and appreciating what we have rather than what we desire. Sounds like a message we've heard before but I'm not sure it's been presented quite so well before or since.

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the greatest movies in cinema history., October 17, 2005

By 

Charley C "lissener" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ugetsu (The Criterion Collection) (DVD)

The first time I saw this movie reminded me of my first time seeing The Passion of Joan of Arc, or Solyaris: like I had found something I had lost. Ugetsu is the story of two couples in 16th century Japan (a brother and sister and their respective spouses) and the misadventures that befall them when they set out from their village to sell pottery in the city. A hauntingly beautiful meditation on the private but universal struggle between love and greed, Ugetsu, which translates (it says here) as "Tales of a Pale and Mysterious Moon After the Rain," feels exactly like you'd expect film with that title to feel: it has the visual texture and depth of Dreyer's greatest films and the comfortable sadness of Ozu's masterpieces. Truly one of the most rewarding moviegoing experiences of my life.