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The Life of Oharu (Saikaku ichidai onna) (1952)

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Movie Info

Life of Oharu features Kinuyo Tanaka in the title role. Oharu is a middle-aged prostitute in 17th century Japan. As she prays before a statue of Buddha, Oharu reviews her past. Her road to degradation began when, as a teenager, she disgraced her family by falling in love with a samurai (Toshiro Mifune). Oharu became the mistress of a prince, who cast her off after she bore his son. She was then sold into prostitution by her father, and thus began a catch-as-catch-can existence alternating

G, 2 hr. 16 min.

Art House & International, Drama

May 13, 1997

Cast

All Critics (13) | Top Critics (1) | Fresh (8) | Rotten (0) | DVD (1)

Though the film is wrenching like few others, this is only because it is also a masterpiece.

February 3, 2008 Full Review Source: Antagony & Ecstasy | Comment
Antagony & Ecstasy

... brilliantly realized without moralizing.

September 11, 2006 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comment
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

The spiritually complete Life of Oharu represents the Holy Grail of Japanese cinema.

August 1, 2004 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | Comment
Slant Magazine

A beautiful, harrowing portrayal of female servitude and degradation in seventeenth century Japan.

May 28, 2004 Full Review Source: Movie Gazette | Comment
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Life of Oharu (Saikaku ichidai onna)

'Life of Oharu' is a stunning feature film, one which could never be matched in todays cinema. Kinuyo Tanaka takes on the daunting task of portraying a tragic, complex and engrossing character. Oharu spans from the ages of 18-50 and Tanaka manages to pull off convincing performances at all these ages. What makes this

June 5, 2006
kiriyamakazou

Super Reviewer

After recently seeing "Sansho the Bailiff" and the spectacular "Ugetsu," I was disappointed with Mizoguchi's "The Life of Oharu." Elegantly made but tedious, it's an overlong, episodic tale of a good-hearted woman who is born into privilege but eventually becomes a common prostitute (alas, not even a successful one).

March 24, 2011
Eric Broome

Super Reviewer

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Foreign Titles

  • La Vie d' Oharu, femme galante (FR)
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