Onibaba

Year: 1964

Grade: B

Country: Japan

Director: Shindo

Review

japanese film that could have been made by kurosawa. stylistically it reminded me of kurosawa’s work, and the man in the picture reminded me a lot of mifune…though mifune would have been even better. i don’t really know where to start with this one. i’m glad i saw it. it’s a very sexual film, especially considering it’s a 60s japanese film. the first ten minutes or so are completely without dialogue. like kurosawa there is a natural ebb and flow, especially to the first half of the film. long scenes without dialogue are followed by shorter scenes with lots of dialogue. it keeps things moving well. the second half of the film was a trip. it’s part morality tale, part allegory, part horror film and all good. i definitely have to see it again before i make a final judgment, but it’s the kind of film that i wouldn’t mind seeing again so that’s not a problem.