Kaneto Shindo's Onibaba is a classic of Japanese cinema, a truly remarkable artistic achievement steeped in folklore and filmed in richly expressive black-and-white. Set in war-torn 16th-century Japan, the story follows a poor wicked woman and her daughter-in-law, who murder lost samurai warriors and sell their property for grain, dumping the bodies in a deep, mysterious hole amidst the high pampas grass surrounding their remote hut. When a war-deserter neighbor returns with amorous designs on the younger woman, passions explode in a conflicting torrent of lust, jealousy, and primal rage--a boiling cauldron of emotions that are manifested through an ill-gotten demon mask which, when worn by the angry older woman, brings forth an apparent curse that threatens to doom them all. Director Shindo draws immediate visual parallels to the primitive emotions that drive his story (which features a surprising amount of female nudity for a 1964 film), giving Onibaba the cumulative effect of a fever dream, driven by a score that uses percussion, flute, and even the eerie cooing of pigeons to enhance its otherworldly atmosphere. DVD extras on this characteristically sharp Criterion release include an interview with Shindo, a rare English translation of the Buddhist fable that inspired the film, home movies of the film's production by actor Kei Sato (who plays the ravenous neighbor), and more. Although certainly not for all tastes, many will find Onibaba to be unforgettable. Recommended. (J. Shannon)
Onibaba
Criterion, 103 min., in Japanese w/English subtitles, not rated, DVD: $29.95 Volume 19, Issue 4
Onibaba
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