The Life of Oharu Blu-ray Review

The Criterion Collection's Blu-ray presentation of Kenji Mizoguchi's "The Life of Oharu" offers an impressive 1080p transfer in its original 1.37:1 aspect ratio, utilizing MPEG-4 AVC encoding. The high-definition digital transfer was meticulously created on a Spirit Datacine from a 35mm fine-grain master positive struck from the original camera negative, with the exception of reel one, which was sourced from a 35mm duplicate negative due to the loss of the master positive. This meticulous process ensures that the transfer remains as close to the source material as possible.

The resulting video presentation is notably polished and defined, bringing out remarkable detail in costumes and facial expressions. The monochromatic palette benefits greatly from excellent color saturation, with blacks and whites appearing natural and not overly boosted. Minor issues such as frame skips, very light vertical lines, and occasional edge wear are present but do not detract significantly from the overall quality, which remains robust and organic. Any inherent source limitations have been carefully managed, with stabilizations applied where possible.

Importantly, common transfer-specific anomalies like aliasing, banding, and flicker are impressively absent from this high-definition presentation. The close-up shots, especially those with ample lighting, exhibit satisfying depth, while the panoramic vistas maintain clarity and fluidity. The lack of excessive degraining and sharpening adjustments further enhances the filmic quality of the presentation. In summary, despite minor inherited imperfections, this Blu-ray transfer represents the best visual representation of "The Life of Oharu" to date. Note that this disc is Region-A locked and requires compatible playback equipment.

The audio presentation on the Blu-ray release of "The Life of Oharu" features a Japanese LPCM 1.0 mono track. This single-channel audio is balanced and clean, considering the film's vintage. Although there are no significant dynamic fluctuations, dropouts, or distortions, the overall dynamic intensity is understandably limited due to the age and historical context of the film. Criterion has provided optional English subtitles, which are well-translated and aid in understanding the dialogue without overshadowing the authenticity of the original audio.

Remastered at 24-bit from the optical track, the mono soundtrack successfully removes any hisses, pops, and cracks. While this remastering ensures the dialogue remains consistently clear and English subtitles further enhance comprehension, it remains a basic audio mix with minimal low-frequency effects (LFE) or dynamic range variations. Essentially, this release delivers a stable and authentic listening experience that honors the original material without dramatically altering its inherent quality.

The Blu Ray extras for "The Life of Oharu" present a thorough and insightful exploration of Kenji Mizoguchi's work and his collaboration with actress Kinuyo Tanaka. Film scholar Dudley Andrew provides an in-depth audio commentary, elucidating the unique relationship between the director and Tanaka, as well as prominent themes in the film. Additionally, his illustrated audio essay, "Mizoguchi's Art and the Demimonde," delves into Mizoguchi's career, artistic interests, and influences including Saikaku Ihara's novel. Another highlight is the documentary "The Travels of Kinuyo Tanaka," directed by Koko Kajiyama, offering an informative look at Tanaka's tumultuous career with substantial archival content. The package is rounded out by an illustrated booklet featuring an essay by Gilberto Perez. Each supplement provides significant context and enhances viewers' understanding of this classic film.

Extras included in this disc:

• Mizoguchi's Art and the Demimonde: Dudley Andrew discusses Mizoguchi's career, themes, and influences.
• Audio Commentary by Dudley Andrew: Commentary on the first 28 minutes of the film, focusing on Tanaka-Mizoguchi relationship and film themes.
• The Travels of Kinuyo Tanaka: Documentary on Tanaka's career featuring archival footage, photos, and newspaper extracts.
• Booklet: Illustrated essay by Gilberto Perez about the film and director.

Kenji Mizoguchi's "The Life of Oharu," a 1952 cinematic masterpiece, arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion, offering viewers an intimate, often harrowing portrayal of life for women in a male-dominated 17th century Japan. Opening on the frigid streets of Kyoto, the film follows Oharu (Kinuyo Tanaka), an aging prostitute whose tragic life unfolds through a series of flashbacks. Her journey from a lady-in-waiting who falls for a low-ranking page (Toshiro Mifune) to becoming a destitute streetwalker is marked by relentless exploitation, societal rejection, and personal anguish. Mizoguchi's direction emphasizes the stark realities and limited choices available to women of that era, creating a deeply emotional viewing experience.

Technically, the film is a marvel. Criterion's Blu-ray edition preserves the visual and narrative intensity with a pristine transfer, enhancing Mizoguchi's masterful use of composition and lighting. The emotional weight of Oharu's story is powerfully conveyed through Tanaka's nuanced performance, which avoids melodrama while vividly capturing the character's suffering and resilience. The narrative’s bleakness is unflinching, showcasing Oharu’s numerous misfortunes, including forced concubinage, exploitation in a brothel, and her eventual lonely existence. The supplementary features enrich the viewing experience with insightful essays and audio commentaries that delve into the film's historical context and thematic depth.

"The Life of Oharu" is pivotal in Mizoguchi's oeuvre, known for its raw portrayal of women's plights. Oharu’s tragic endeavors are underscored by relentless societal norms and personal betrayals, culminating in an evocative critique of historical gender roles. This Criterion release not only revives an essential work of Japanese cinema but also serves as an educational conduit into Mizoguchi's profound storytelling capabilities and his critique of feudal Japan. Artfully restored, it stands as a testament to cinema’s power to reflect and interrogate historical injustices.

The Blu-ray release of "The Life of Oharu" offers a commendable restoration of Kenji Mizoguchi's classic work. Criterion has done an excellent job preserving the visual integrity of this early Japanese masterpiece, with a high-definition transfer that enhances the film's striking black-and-white cinematography. The video quality is impressive, sharply delineating the textures and contrasts which are essential to Mizoguchi's storytelling style. The audio presentation matches this high standard, offering clear and balanced sound that enriches the overall viewing experience. Criterion’s inclusion of extras provides a deeper appreciation of the film’s historical and cultural context, although they may be regarded as modest in quantity.

The narrative remains as engaging and poignant as ever, primarily brought to life through the outstanding performance by Kinuyo Tanaka. Her portrayal is a cornerstone of the film’s emotional depth and nuanced depiction of Oharu’s tragic life. This release significantly benefits from modern technological standards, which elevate the film beyond its previous home media iterations. While the film’s themes are weighty and its tone somber, Mizoguchi’s direction ensures that it remains both captivating and beautifully composed, underlining its reputation as one of the standout works of early Japanese cinema.

I think that it is fantastic to see that Kenji Mizoguchi's films are slowly making their way to Blu-ray. "The Life of Oharu", one of the Japanese master's best films, now looks quite wonderful, and I cannot recommend it highly enough to anyone interested in classic Japanese cinema. I would also like to encourage you to consider adding to your collections The Mizoguchi Collection, which contains four Mizoguchi films, including the terrific Utamaro and His Five Women and Osaka Elegy, that are not currently available on Blu-ray in North America. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.