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CD Smiles added 1 item to Albums Heard in 2018 list
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7 years, 3 months ago
CD Smiles added 1 item to Albums Heard in 2018 list
7 years, 3 months ago
CD Smiles added 1 item to Albums Heard in 2018 list
7 years, 3 months ago
CD Smiles added 1 item to Albums Heard in 2018 list
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CD Smiles voted for list

7 years, 3 months ago
CD Smiles added 1 item to Movies Watched in 2018 list
January 29th
Directed by: Kenji Mizoguchi
Yasujiro Ozu and Kenji Mizoguchi I would think are the two most prolific filmmakers whose most common theme is the plight of women. Now, Ozu would always take the modern approach and Mizoguchi was more of a fan of what I assume to be Edo period. I mention Ozu because I find it really interesting that so much of Japanese cinema was dominated by stories of women and the hurdles of their time, be it the 1960s or the 1600s. I don't bat an eye at this, I hardly noticed it until now but if this were the case in current day I'd find it pretty shocking. I mentioned Mizoguchi's approach being different, the word that comes to mind is "dire". Oharu's story begins with her lover being beheaded for being of a lower caste, she is banished, sent away to be a mistress and her decline never stops for all 130 minutes. To write a story so dour must have been tortuous for Mizoguchi, it being based on his reality, as it was for me to watch. The Life of Oharu is a good film. I think there is some consideration to be taken for the time period, as "bad gets worse" bothers me as a theme nowadays, but it never feels like that's all it is.
7 years, 3 months ago