Ugetsu

“For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.”
James 3:16

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.”
I Timothy 6:10

My previous post was about the 1953 movie Tokyo Story. Next is another Japanese movie from the same year. Ugetsu is set in 16th century Japan during a time of civil war. Two brothers and their families want to avoid the horrors of war but their greed and ambition get in the way and tragedy results.

Genjuro, one of the brothers, makes pottery using a homemade kiln. He’s fairly good at it and is excited when he is able to bring home money from selling his wares. His brother Tobei wants nothing more than to become a great warrior, even a samurai, although he is hardly qualified to be either. Both men’s wives would rather stay home and try to be safe from the approaching war, but the men leave, insisting they will return soon. While selling his pottery, Genjuro is approached by a mysterious woman and her lady-in-waiting. He is enchanted by her and for good reason. We soon learn that she is a ghost. Enticed by her, he forgets all about his wife and even agrees to marry the woman! Back home, his wife and son are forced from their home and can barely find food while avoiding marauding soldiers.

Meanwhile, Tobei’s wife is soon forgotten by him and ends up turning to prostitution to earn money. Despite his incompetence, he does in fact become a samurai. Both brothers seem to have achieved their goals of money and power but at the cost of their own families. The men are eventually reunited with their wives, but in unusual ways, which I won’t spoil here.

Ugetsu may not be a Christian film, but the Bible verses quoted above are aptly demonstrated. The love of money and selfish ambition both cause great harm to the film’s characters.

I don’t usually listen to DVD commentary tracks but I often make an exception for foreign films. The commentary for Ugetsu is full of interesting details that I missed while watching the movie, especially regarding Japanese history and culture.