Ugetsu
(DVD)

Originally released as a motion picture in 1953 by Daiei Film Production, Ltd. entitled "Ugetsu monogatari."

Based on the stories of Akinari Ueda.

Documentary (disc 2) called: Kenji Mizoguchi: the life of a film director; directed by Kaneto Shindo (1975).

Special features: Audio commentary by renowned critic, filmmaker, and festival programmer Tony Rayns ; Two Worlds Interwined--a new 14 min. appreciation of Ugetsu by director Masahiro Shinoda ; Process and Production--a new 20 min. video interview with Tokuzo Tanaka, first assistant director on Ugetsu ; Ten min. video interview with cinematographer Kazuo Miyagawa, from 1992 ; and theatrical trailers.

Accompanying booklet features an essay by film critic Phillip Lopate and three short stories that influenced Mizoguchi in making the film: "The house in the thicket" and "A serpent's lust" by Akinara Ueda from his book "Ugetsu monogatari" and "How he got the Legion of Honor" by Guy de Maupassant.

Director of photography, Kazuo Miyagawa ; editor, Mitsuzo Miyata ; composer, Fumio Hayasaka.

Machiko Kyo, Masayuki Mori, Kinuyo Tanaka, Sakae Ozawa, Mitsuko Mito.

In sixteenth century Japan a village potter and his brother-in-law set out for the city to seek their fortunes in the spoils of war. Their neglected wives suffer the bitter consequences of their husbands' ambition as one is murdered by soldiers and the other is raped and becomes a prostitute.

DVD, region 1, full screen (1.33:1) presentation; Dolby Digital mono.

In Japanese with optional English subtitles.