Review of Street of Shame (1956) by Orlok W — 23 Mar 2012
There is not much to rant or rave about Kenji Mizoguchi's "Street of Shame." The last film of a master filmmaker tells the tales of prostitutes living in a Japanese brothel. Machiko Kyo, who starred in the masterpiece "Ugetsu," and in Akira Kurosawa's "Rashomon" is an entirely different person in this one; very vibrant! There were about two or three sequences that really impressed me.
I think this film is too constricted; it almost entirely supports the prostitutes and does not present any real obstacles or at least fails to really delve the viewer into the lives of these unfortunate women.
I could even argue that it doesn't provide genuine reasons for these women to have no other alternative except prostitution. "Street of Shame" is much more polished than Mizoguchi's "The Life of Oharu," however it lacks a great character and it doesn't have much emotional power, therefore "The Life of Oharu" is better.
In no way, do both films come close to "Ugetsu," or "Shansho the Bailiff." It is fine film to watch once for Mizoguchi, the somewhat interesting stories of the women, and for the poignancy of the concluding minutes.
This review of Street of Shame (1956) was written by Orlok W on 23 Mar 2012.
Street of Shame has generally received very positive reviews.
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