With Beauty and Sorrow (Utsukushia to kanashimi to)
Directed by Masahiro Shinoda
Written by Nobuo Yamada from a novel by Yasunari Kawabata
1965/Japan
Shochiku Eiga
First viewing/FilmStruck
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge. Paul Gauguin
The title is a good four word review.
As the film begins, Toshio Oki travels to Kyoto ostensibly to hear the temple bells ring in the New Year. His real motive is to catch up with Otoko Ueno, whom he impregnated when she was sixteen. He wrote a bestseller about the incident. She is now a famous painter. Otoko sends her young beautiful protege Keiko Sakami to fetch him from the hotel. The three dine together. Otoko informs Toshio early on that Keiko is a bit mad.
We learn that the child Otoko bore died after only one week and Otoko suffers still from its loss. Keiko is inspired to seek revenge on behalf of her mentor. This involves seducing both Toshio and his son Taichiro and finding a way to wreck their lives. Otoko is not really on board with this plan but Keiko is successful in seducing her as well.
This movie is absolutely gorgeous. Some of the compositions are straight out of Ozu. And yet the camera dances as Ozu’s never did. The use of color is also outstanding. The story is very dark and sexual and is well acted. Recommended to those attracted to this kind of thing.
Trailer – no subtitles
