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Ugetsu

Play trailer Poster for Ugetsu 1953 1h 36m Fantasy Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 34 Reviews 93% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
In 16th century Japan, peasants Genjuro (Masayuki Mori) and Tobei (Sakae Ozawa) sell their earthenware pots to a group of soldiers in a nearby village, in defiance of a local sage's warning against seeking to profit from warfare. Genjuro's pursuit of both riches and the mysterious Lady Wakasa (Machiko Kyō), as well as Tobei's desire to become a samurai, run the risk of destroying both themselves and their wives, Miyagi (Kinuyo Tanaka) and Ohama (Mitsuko Mito).
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Ugetsu

Ugetsu

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Critics Consensus

With its thought-provoking themes, rich atmosphere, and brilliant direction, Kenji Mizoguchi's Ugetsu monogatari is a towering classic of world cinema.

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Critics Reviews

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Jonas Mekas Village Voice Apr 20, 2022
Ugetsu, with its many adventures and accidents and stories, is a well-constructed work of art, growing out of a sense of drama. Go to Full Review Alan Scherstuhl Village Voice Feb 28, 2017
With rare humanity, Mizoguchi reveals the toll these misadventures take on the souls of both men and their wives, many moments an uncanny synthesis of the realistic and the otherworldly. Go to Full Review Variety Staff Variety Sep 16, 2008
Tale of two men in seething 16th-century Japan has a color and panorama which makes this absorbing film fare. Go to Full Review Douglas Davidson Elements of Madness Apr 18, 2025
... always-connected digital communication that we live in, there’s a belief that one must be seen in order to be real and being seen must be shuffled through a myriad of filters before clicking publish, the message from 1953 remains a poignant one. Go to Full Review Penelope Gilliatt Observer (UK) Mar 5, 2024
Mizoguchi was trained as a painter, and his deep-focus shots often remind one of a Dutch interior. Go to Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Feb 14, 2022
4/4
Mizoguchi's blend of historicity, artistic refinement, and human observation combines with his rare embrace of the spiritual in Ugetsu, and its effect is entrancing, affecting, and unforgettable. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Henry D @Henry_Domke Sep 10, 2026 One of our favorite films, and certainly the best ghost story we’ve ever seen. The sets, costumes, cinematography and characters create a completely believable, richly detailed ancient world that feels both exotic and real. The story is complex and deeply tragic rather than spooky, and the actors make even the supernatural elements convincing. The restored print looked perfect. There is so much going on visually and emotionally that this is a film we need to see again. See more Abro A @Ozuuu Jul 7, 2026 Fantastic little gem. Made by a master of cinema. I loved everything about this film. See more Lao M @bowserlord Jul 7, 2026 Very stirring film. Flows like a water painting, but that shouldn't be a surprise coming from a master director like Mizguchi. Filled with haunting visuals and dark subplots. A ghost story and a Samurai film in equal measure. Loved it! See more Par H @Parhwy Jun 26, 2026 Ugetsu (1953) is a 96-minute-long Japanese drama I saw on Plex in June 2026. This film is quite depressing due to the nature of the world and the time in which the main characters live. They live on struggle street at the best of times; the film is set in the worst of times. There is hope however there is also superstition and soothsaying. I absolutely loved the scene where the husband decides to buy a kimono for his wife and she appears in the shop; this is his imagination, yet it was done so smoothly on camera. The end of the film uses a similar technique, and my experience was incredible sadness. A lot of the acting felt weak by quality and pace: so many actors were talking and moving at pace. Ok, I get it, it’s a frenetic time in your world, not everything needs mania and yelling. The two main stories were told in large, almost unlinked blocks of cinema time. Rewatch? No. Recommend? No. 5/10. See more Homu L @AkemiLord May 3, 2026 Fantastic movie. I really enjoyed watching this. Great film! See more Werner K @wernerrrrr12 Jan 30, 2026 Tales of Moonlight and rain. Do you know? A great Japanese ghost movie! See more Read all reviews
Ugetsu

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Cast & Crew

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Kenji Mizoguchi

Director

Machiko Kyō

Lady Wakasa

Masayuki Mori

Genjurô

Kinuyo Tanaka

Miyagi

Sakae Ozawa

To^bei

Ikio Sawamura

Genichi
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Ugetsu

Ugetsu (1953) Ugetsu (1953) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In 16th century Japan, peasants Genjuro (Masayuki Mori) and Tobei (Sakae Ozawa) sell their earthenware pots to a group of soldiers in a nearby village, in defiance of a local sage's warning against seeking to profit from warfare. Genjuro's pursuit of both riches and the mysterious Lady Wakasa (Machiko Kyō), as well as Tobei's desire to become a samurai, run the risk of destroying both themselves and their wives, Miyagi (Kinuyo Tanaka) and Ohama (Mitsuko Mito).
Director
Kenji Mizoguchi
Producer
Masaichi Nagata
Screenwriter
Matsutarô Kawaguchi
Distributor
Video Yesteryear, Criterion Collection, Edward Harrison [us]
Production Co
Daiei Studios
Genre
Fantasy
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 7, 1953, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 23, 2017
Runtime
1h 36m
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