Ugetsu

Inspired by two of Aknari Ueda's nine 'Tales of Moonlight and Rain', and Guy de Maupassant's 'How He Got The Legion of Honor', Kenji Mizoguchi's 1953 film Ugetsu monogatari is a fantastic story of Love, Ambition, and Ghosts in the midst of War-time.
Ugetsu follows the story of two peasant couples (some sources suggest that the men are brothers, but I found no reference to this in the film, though a different translation might have suggested this), living in sixteenth century Japan, during civil war. At first we meet Genjuro a potter who is preparing to travel to a larger village to sell his pots where there is a boom in the local economy due to the war. His wife Miyagi pleads to join him, but he suggests that she should stay to care for their son. Genjuro is joined by his foolish neighbor and assistant Tobei who despite the outrage of his wife Ohama, longs to be a successful samurai. Genjuro quickly returns home after making a great profit on the pots he has sold. He brings a handful of silver, and beautiful kimonos for his wife and son. This scene in particular is quite touching. As Miyagi holds up the beautiful Kimono that Genjuro has bought for her, she explains that it is his kindness that makes her happy, and that all she needs is for him to be with her. This theme will echo throughout the film.
Tobei soon returns home as well, after he is laughed out of town by the samurai, who suggest he come back when he has an armor and spear. His spirited wife Ohama berates him for being a foolish dreamer instead of a reliable husband.
Genjuro, driven almost mad with ambition, plans to return to town to make his fortune, throws everything he has into making the largest batch of pots as he can, promising 30% of the profits to Tobei. Before they are finished, their village is attacked, and they all flee to the forest for refuge. The couples sneak back to the village to salvage the pottery and decide to take it to the city across Lake Biwa by boat. On the foggy lake, they encounter a phantom boat, the only passenger is a dying man who's last gasp is a warning that there are pirates on the lake, and that their wares and women were in danger.
Fearing the pirates, Miyagi and her son are deposited on land to return safely home as the others journey to the city. Once at the city, Tobei makes the money to purchase the needed armor and spear to become a samurai, Ohama is lost, then raped, and becomes a prostitute, and Genjuro become the object of a Mysterious lady's affections. Each of the four characters are sent on a different journeys, each haunting and harrowing.
Ugetsu is a remarkable balance between fantasy and harsh reality. The cinematography is breathtaking. The camera is almost always moving, and often vertically (about 70% of the film was shot with a crane). Mizoguchi's obsessive attention to detail, bring the world of these people vividly to life. This is a world of textures, it is as if you can actually feel the silk and fog. I cannot recommend this film enough. Beautifully photographed and directed, with wonderful performances all around. Ugetsu is a lyrical masterpiece, as mysterious as a dream and as thoroughly unforgettable.