Gion Bayashi (1953)
(Gion Festival of Music)
Country: JAP
Technical: bw 85m
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Cast: Michiyo Kogure, Ayako Wakao, Seizaburô Kawazu
Synopsis:
A young girl flees an abusive uncle and seeks protection with a geisha, whom she petitions for training and tutelage. She chooses well, for the woman is compassionate and recognises that she may soon find herself overlooked in favour of the newcomer, but the latter is indignant when asked to make the sacrifice of her honour that some customers now seem to take for granted.
Review:
A frying pan and fire narrative, then, illustrating how without money a desirable woman is prey to the extortions of men on all sides. What is interesting is that the director intended to film a story far more along All About Eve lines, but had to succumb to studio interference and introduce a redemptive affection between the women. Still more interesting is that if anything this highlights the evolving plight of the geisha, from a woman-artist who is hired for her social skills and may on occasion choose to confer her sexual favours, to one whose post-war position was increasingly subverted by amateurs with fewer skills and looser morals.
(Gion Festival of Music)
Country: JAP
Technical: bw 85m
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Cast: Michiyo Kogure, Ayako Wakao, Seizaburô Kawazu
Synopsis:
A young girl flees an abusive uncle and seeks protection with a geisha, whom she petitions for training and tutelage. She chooses well, for the woman is compassionate and recognises that she may soon find herself overlooked in favour of the newcomer, but the latter is indignant when asked to make the sacrifice of her honour that some customers now seem to take for granted.
Review:
A frying pan and fire narrative, then, illustrating how without money a desirable woman is prey to the extortions of men on all sides. What is interesting is that the director intended to film a story far more along All About Eve lines, but had to succumb to studio interference and introduce a redemptive affection between the women. Still more interesting is that if anything this highlights the evolving plight of the geisha, from a woman-artist who is hired for her social skills and may on occasion choose to confer her sexual favours, to one whose post-war position was increasingly subverted by amateurs with fewer skills and looser morals.
(Gion Festival of Music)
Country: JAP
Technical: bw 85m
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Cast: Michiyo Kogure, Ayako Wakao, Seizaburô Kawazu
Synopsis:
A young girl flees an abusive uncle and seeks protection with a geisha, whom she petitions for training and tutelage. She chooses well, for the woman is compassionate and recognises that she may soon find herself overlooked in favour of the newcomer, but the latter is indignant when asked to make the sacrifice of her honour that some customers now seem to take for granted.
Review:
A frying pan and fire narrative, then, illustrating how without money a desirable woman is prey to the extortions of men on all sides. What is interesting is that the director intended to film a story far more along All About Eve lines, but had to succumb to studio interference and introduce a redemptive affection between the women. Still more interesting is that if anything this highlights the evolving plight of the geisha, from a woman-artist who is hired for her social skills and may on occasion choose to confer her sexual favours, to one whose post-war position was increasingly subverted by amateurs with fewer skills and looser morals.