Hey,
The reason -- at least to me -- that Mizoguchi isn't as popular in the
west as he should be is because he may be too Japanese. What he
learned from the west in terms of production values were subsumed into
his aesthetic and that aesthetic is as influenced by woodcuts and
paintings as much as anything else. As I slowly work my way through
his catalog, I find I don't miss the use of the closeup that Mizoguchi
rarely uses. That single choice is pretty much central to
understanding his approach to films. He is one of the few directors
who actually understands and utilizes mise-en-sc=E8ne (in the true
definition) and yet the last things his films show is staginess.
Obviously, a film titled "The Crucified Lovers" isn't going to end
well for somebody. The story is from a Japanese play from the 17th
century and the literal title of the film is "A Story From
Chikamatsu." What is remarkable about this flick isn't in the story
alone but how the film is made. To me, that's how it should be. There
should be equal amounts of each and the more I watch this guy, the
more I get what he's up to.
William
www.williamahearn.com |