(aka "Musashino fujin" or "The Lady of Musashino" or "Lady Musashino")

directed by Kenji Mizoguchi
Japan 1951

 An atmospheric evocation of post war Japan exploring the climate of social and economic change, The Lady Of Musashino tells the story of Michiko (Kinuyo Tanaka), a disillusioned young wife, trapped in a loveless marriage to her translator husband (Masayuki Mori).

Starved of any real affection, Michiko turns to her cousin (Akihiko Katayama), only to become entangled in a destructive affair. Ultimately let down by both men, Michiko in her desperation decides to take her fate into her own hands...

Mizoguchi made this film just one year before his masterpiece, 'The Life of O-Haru'. His serene visual style and meticulously detailed mise-en-scene captures the moral decadence and emotional brittleness of Japan's post war society. Exploring the divide between traditional values and a new found personal liberation, Mizoguchi contrasts the pace of life in the countryside with the bustling suburbs of the encroaching city. The superb Kinuyo Tanaka gives another outstanding performance as the self-sacrificing heroine
. out of  

Theatrical Release: September 14th, 1951 - Japan

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DVD Review: Artificial Eye -  Region 2 - PAL

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Distribution Artificial Eye - Region 2- PAL
Runtime 1:24:24
Video 1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.55 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
 

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes

Bitrate:

.

Audio Japanese (Dolby Digital 2.0 Dolby) 
Subtitles English, none
Features

Release Information:
Studio: Artificial Eye Film Company

Aspect Ratio:
Original aspect Ratio 1.33:1

 

Edition Details:

• Mizoguchi filmography 

DVD Release Date: April 26th, 2004

Transparent Keep Case
Chapters: 12 

 

Comments:

NOTE: LADY OF MUSASHINO Some have indicated a freezing of the image with 8 minutes remaining, although some people have claimed this did not occur on their systems. We are still working with AE to investigate if this may be isolated to a few discs in a bad batch.

NOTE: My disc froze at 2 points near the end of the film. If you have similar problems please email me at gary@2ze.com.

The image is similar to the AE "Life of Oharu", in fact it may be slightly softer. One major difference is that this has removable subtitles which are very nicely done. Dark, cloudy image with some film grain, but a lot of instances of scratches, hairs and marks on the film. This definitely has had no restoration and the source print looks to have been in bad shape. No Extras again and the audio is also poor. We really need Criterion for these Mizoguchi films. Really. out of

Gary W. Tooze

 



Recommended Reading for Japanese Film Fans (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)

The Japan Journals : 1947-2004,

by  Donald Richie

The Midnight Eye Guide to New Japanese Film
by Tom Mes and Jasper Sharp

Kon Ichikawa (Cinematheque Ontario Monographs)

by James Quandt, Cinematheque Ontario

Shohei Imamura (Cinematheque Ontario Monographs, No. 1)
by James Quandt
Eros Plus Massacre: An Introduction to the Japanese New Wave Cinema (Midland Book, Mb 469)
by David Desser
The Films of Akira Kurosawa by Donald Ritchie

Tokyo Story

by Yasujiro Ozu, Kogo Noda, Donald Richie, Eric Klestadt

Ozu by Donald Richie

A Hundred Years of Japanese Film by Donald Richie

Check out more in "The Library"




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Distribution Artificial Eye - Region 2- PAL


 

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