Onibaba
Onibaba • 1h 42m
Directed by Kaneto Shindo • 1964 • Japan
Deep within the wind-swept marshes of war-torn medieval Japan, an impoverished mother and her daughter-in-law eke out a lonely, desperate existence. Forced to murder lost samurai and sell their belongings for grain, they dump the corpses down a deep, dark hole and live off their meager spoils. When a bedraggled neighbor returns from the skirmishes, lust, jealousy, and rage threaten to destroy the trio's tenuous existence, before an ominous, ill-gotten demon mask seals the trio's horrifying fate. Driven by primal emotions, dark eroticism, a frenzied score by Hikaru Hayashi, and stunning images both lyrical and macabre, Kaneto Shindo's chilling folktale is a singular cinematic experience.
Up Next in Onibaba
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ONIBABA Commentary
Recorded in 2001, this audio commentary features director Kaneto Shindo and actors Kei Sato and Jitsuko Yoshimura.
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Kaneto Shindo on ONIBABA
This 2003 video interview with Kaneto Shindo shows the acclaimed writer/director discussing the genesis and filming of ONIBABA, as well as reflecting on his diverse and prolific career within the Japanese film industry.
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ONIBABA Behind the Scenes
This rare silent black & white and color Super-8 footage was shot with the camera of actor Kei Sato (Hachi in the film) during the production of ONIBABA. The accompanying notes offer details about the rigors of the shoot, and provide context for many of the events shown in the behind-the-scen...
