The Downfall of Osen review - a real tearjerker from 1935

Should you watch The Downfall of Osen tonight? Yes, if you like old silent movies that actually make you feel sad, rather than just bored. 🎥

But skip it if you can't stand scratchy black-and-white films where people communicate mostly by staring intensely at each other. It is definitely not for everyone.

The story is pretty simple but it hits hard. Osen is this poor servant girl who basically ruins her own life so this guy Sokichi can go to doctor school.

Honestly, Sokichi is kind of a wet blanket. He just sits there looking miserable while she does literally everything to keep them alive.

There is this one scene early on where the evil antique dealer Kumazawa is scamming some Buddhist monks. The way the director shoots the monks looking all confused and sweaty is actually pretty funny.

It reminds me of the weird characters in Bride of the Storm but way more low-key.

Anyway, Kumazawa gets arrested and then the movie gets really depressing. Osen decides she has to sell herself to pay for Sokichi’s books and tuition.

The room they live in is so tiny and sad. You can practically smell the dusty mats through the screen.

What got me was how she hides it from him. He is so clueless, just studying his papers while she comes home looking absolutely exhausted.

Isuzu Yamada plays Osen and she is just incredible. Her eyes do most of the work because, well, it is a silent film with very few title cards.

Sometimes the editing is super choppy. Like, one second they are talking, and the next second there is a weird jump cut that makes you think your video file skipped. 🤷‍♂️

I think they lost some footage over the years, which happens with these old Japanese movies.

There’s a moment near the end where Osen is walking in the rain and she just looks so defeated. The rain looks like actual buckets of water being dumped from just off-screen.

It is not very realistic, but man, it works.

If you want something flashy like Wall Street, obviously do not watch this. This is more of a quiet, slow-burn tragedy that stays with you.

I did get a bit annoyed at Sokichi at the end. Like, buddy, how did you not notice anything happening right under your nose?

Still, the final minutes are really powerful. It makes you realize how much people are willing to sacrifice for someone who might not even deserve it.

It is a quick watch, under eighty minutes. Definitely worth a look if you want to see some early Japanese cinema history that isn't just samurai fighting.