Onibaba (Masters Of Cinema)

Star Review

I was mesmerized by this beautifully filmed black & white movie. I rented it about 10 years ago and have not forgotten it. The cinematograpy and plot are great, as is the acting. The scene where the young woman and man are running through the rice paddy at dusk/dawn? is a beautiful sight. I plan to purchase it for my video library. A new Movie Mail fan from Dallas, Tx.

Kate Davies on 9th August 2005

View all 10 of Kate Davies’s reviews

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Film Description

Set during a period of civil war, combat-weary samurai are drawn towards the tall grass fields to hide and rest themselves, whereupon they are ambushed and murdered by a ruthless mother and daughter-in-law team, who then barter their armour and weapons for food. A neighbour returning from the wars brings bad news and threatens the women's partnership. Erotically charged and steeped in symbolism, Onibaba is in part a modern parable on consumerism, a study of the destructiveness of sexual desire and — filmed within a claustrophobic sea of grass — one of the most striking and unique films of the last century.

[ Show Star Review ]

I was mesmerized by this beautifully filmed black & white movie. I rented it about 10 years ago and have not forgotten it. The cinematograpy and plot are great, as is ... more >

I was mesmerized by this beautifully filmed black & white movie. I rented it about 10 years ago and have not forgotten it. The cinematograpy and plot are great, as is the acting. The scene where the young woman and man are running through the rice paddy at dusk/dawn? is a beautiful sight. I plan to purchase it for my video library. A new Movie Mail fan from Dallas, Tx. < less

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DVD Extras

• Newly-restored high-definition transfer
• Full-length audio commentary by director Kaneto Shindo and the stars of the film, Kei Sato and Jitsuko Yoshimura
• Video introduction by Alex Cox
• 8mm footage (40-minutes) shot on location by lead actor Kei Sato
• New subtitle translation
• Production stills gallery
• 24-page booklet with a new essay by Doug Cummings.

Film Details

Cast

Nobuko Otowa

Technical Details