SCREENING
The Life of Oharu (Saikaku Ichidai Onna)
Ongoing
Dir. Kenji Mizoguchi. 1952, 136 mins. 35mm print from Janus Films. With Kinuyo Tanaka, Toshiro Mifune. “Death is easy, but life is not so simple.” So learns once beautiful, but now aging prostitute Oharu, who must endure hardship after hardship on her slow descent into the lowest rungs of society. Mizoguchi beautifully renders the tragedy through carefully composed long takes, psychologically charged camera movements, and a delicate handling of actors. As embodied by the remarkable, infinitely touching Kinuyo Tanaka, Oharu stands as arguably the most poignant and enduring of the director’s many “fallen” women.
Tickets for Friday evening screenings: $12 ($9 for senior citizens and students / free for Museum members) and includes admission to the Museum’s galleries, which are open until 8:00 p.m. For more information on membership and to join online, visit our membership page.
Related