Sansho The Baliff (Mizoguchi, 1954)
One mark of a newbie cinephile is that you tend to think that all world film is alike. That Kurosawa is the same as Ozu is the same as Naruse is the same as Koreeda is the same as Misoguchi. I had heard good things about Mizoguchi’s film, but I had resisted it because my response to Japanese films in the past has been very spotty.
This film is very accessible, and it is easy to follow for those (like me) who tend to get restless without any narrative. While the film is structured more around theme than plot, it is easy enough to keep the characters separate and to understand how their respective stories contribute to the larger theme.
If I had to articulate that theme, I would say the film is about the influence of one man. The plot isn’t so much about Sansho but about his legacy, primarily on his children and particularly on his son. It is about the difficulty of doing the right thing–or, rather, the ease in going along with everyone else in doing the wrong thing.
Plus, the film is a treat to look at visually.
Hey, I just watched this a week or so ago. I had a little more trouble with it–I wouldn’t say there’s no narrative, but the narrative is so convoluted that I started losing track of who was doing what to whom. So I ended up watching it with the commentary–which was very helpful. I know this is sort of cheating, but since subtitling was already in effect, I guess only the musical track was affected. Visually, still great.
Beth,
I wouldn’t say it’s cheating. I find myself calibrated to films just like food. If that’s what helps you enjoy the film, I don’t think it’s that different than talking to someone about a book you are reading. Especially if it’s a new auteur, style, or subject matter.
Of course, there’s a skill to doing a good commentary that draws you in and adds to the film without just being a totally separate experience. It sounds like this was one of those. Do you remember who did it?
I looked it up–the commentary is done by Jeffrey Angles, Asst. Prof. of Japanese Lit. at Western Mich. U.. He clearly knows what he’s talking about.
Commentary by a literature professor. There’s hope for us!