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5.7/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.7/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Genroku koimoyo Sankichi to Osayo remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have an itch for black-and-white period dramas, you’ll probably find something to love here. It’s definitely not a popcorn flick. If you need explosions or constant movement, maybe skip this one. You’ll be bored to tears. But if you like watching people navigate social traps in old kimonos, you’re in the right place. 🏮
There’s a certain stillness to the frame that you just don't see anymore. It feels like the camera is sitting on a porch, just watching these people suffer through their own politeness. Mitsuyo Seo is great, but the movie isn't really about a single performance. It’s about the way the light hits the tatami mats.
I caught myself staring at a tea set in the background for way too long. It wasn’t important to the scene, but the way it was placed felt so deliberate. Sometimes the movie feels more like a painting than a narrative.
It reminds me a bit of the pacing in Ashi ni sawatta onna, though they are totally different beasts. It’s got that same sense of being trapped in a specific moment. Sometimes, I felt like the actors were waiting for me to catch up. A couple of the reaction shots last so long you start wondering if the film strip got stuck. It’s kind of funny, in a dry way.
The movie gets better once you stop waiting for a big dramatic explosion. It’s just people being sad about love, which is timeless, I guess. The sets feel thin, but in a way that adds to the charm. You can see the stage-like quality of it all.
It’s not a masterpiece. It’s not trying to be. It’s just a little slice of something that happened a long time ago. Honestly, I liked it more because it didn't try to impress me with fancy editing or loud music. It just sat there and let the story unfold. It’s imperfect, a bit dusty, and totally fine with that. 🍵