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祇園囃子 [Gion bayashi / Gion Festival Music] (Kenji Mizoguchi, 1953)
Dec
15
茶
Studying the tea ceremony, accompanied by director Mizoguchi (via). DP: Kazuo Miyagawa.
Having tea*
“A geisha’s lie is not a real lie. It’s a cornerstone of our profession.”
– Miyoharu
* the Bales 2025 Film Challenge for December has a few dateless themes. This is one of them.
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妻は告白する [Tsuma wa kokuhaku suru / A Wife Confesses] (Yasuzō Masumura, 1961)
Jul
15
1961
An expert called into the court case studies an enlarged photograph of the supposed crime scene. DP: Setsuo Kobayashi.
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瘋癲老人日記 [Fūten rōjin nikki / Diary of a Mad Old Man] (Keigo Kimura, 1962)
Oct
29
World Stroke Day
Utsugi (Sō Yamamura) lusting after his daughter-in-law Sachiko's (Ayako Wakao) feet while she takes a shower. DP: Nobuo Munekawa.
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刺青 [Irezumi / The Tattoo] (Yasuzō Masumura, 1966)
Jul
18
Otsuya (Ayako Wakao) and one of her samurai clients share sake and a small meal. Beautifully framed by cinematographer Kazuo Miyagawa there's all we need to see – Otsuya's facial expressions and the fiery, protective 籠目 (kagome, litt. eye) pattern – with not much more on display. DP: Kazuo Miyagawa.
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刺青 [Irezumi] (Yasuzō Masumura, 1966)
Jul
17
National Tattoo Day
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