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Ugetsu

Ugetsu

19538.01h 36m

Overview

In 16th century Japan, peasants Genjuro and Tobei sell their earthenware pots to a group of soldiers in a nearby village, in defiance of a local sage's warning against seeking to profit from warfare. Genjuro's pursuit of both riches and the mysterious Lady Wakasa, as well as Tobei's desire to become a samurai, run the risk of destroying both themselves and their wives, Miyagi and Ohama.

Directed by Kenji Mizoguchi
Written by Yoshikata Yoda, Matsutarō Kawaguchi, Akinari Ueda
Produced by Masaichi Nagata
0

Top Cast

Machiko Kyō

Machiko Kyō

Lady Wakasa

Mitsuko Mito

Mitsuko Mito

Ohama

Kinuyo Tanaka

Kinuyo Tanaka

Miyagi

Masayuki Mori

Masayuki Mori

Genjurô

Eitarō Ozawa

Eitarō Ozawa

Tôbei

S

Sugisaku Aoyama

Old Priest

M

Mitsusaburō Ramon

Captain of Tamba Soldiers

Ryōsuke Kagawa

Ryōsuke Kagawa

Village Master

Kichijirō Ueda

Kichijirō Ueda

Shop Owner

Shōzō Nanbu

Shōzō Nanbu

Shintô Priest

Themes & Keywords

japansamuraibased on novel or bookgreedbigamytragedyrural areablack and whiteghostjidaigekisengoku periodfeudal japan16th centurywarring states periodhistorical romance

About Ugetsu

Ugetsu is a fantasy, drama, mystery film released in 1953 exploring themes of japan, samurai, based on novel or book, greed, bigamy, tragedy. Directed by Kenji Mizoguchi, it stars Machiko Kyō, Mitsuko Mito, Kinuyo Tanaka. In 16th century Japan, peasants Genjuro and Tobei sell their earthenware pots to a group of soldiers in a nearby village, in defiance of a local sage's warning against seeking to profit from warfare. Genjuro's pursuit of both riches and the mysterious Lady Wakasa, as well as Tobei's desire to become a samurai, run the risk of destroying both themselves and their wives, Miyagi and Ohama.

Movies Similar to Ugetsu

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We found 15 movies similar to Ugetsu

If you enjoyed Ugetsu, you'll love these handpicked recommendations. Each title below shares similar themes, tone, and storytelling style. Our algorithm analyzes genres, keywords, director filmography, and cast connections to find the closest matches. Whether you're looking for the same emotional depth, narrative structure, or visual style, these picks are curated to deliver the best viewing experience for fans of Ugetsu.

Throne of Blood
27% Match

Returning to their lord's castle, samurai warriors Washizu and Miki are waylaid by a spirit who predicts their futures. When the first part of the spirit's prophecy comes true, Washizu's scheming wife, Asaji, presses him to speed up the rest of the spirit's prophecy by murdering his lord and usurping his place. Director Akira Kurosawa's resetting of William Shakespeare's "Macbeth" in feudal Japan is one of his most acclaimed films.

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A samurai answers a village's request for protection after he falls on hard times. The town needs protection from bandits, so the samurai gathers six others to help him teach the people how to defend themselves, and the villagers provide the soldiers with food.

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In feudal Japan, during a bloody war between clans, two cowardly and greedy peasants, soldiers of a defeated army, stumble upon a mysterious man who guides them to a fortress hidden in the mountains.

Yojimbo
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Yojimbo(1961)

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A nameless ronin, or samurai with no master, enters a small village in feudal Japan where two rival businessmen are struggling for control of the local gambling trade. Taking the name Sanjuro Kuwabatake, the ronin convinces both silk merchant Tazaemon and sake merchant Tokuemon to hire him as a personal bodyguard, then artfully sets in motion a full-scale gang war between the two ambitious and unscrupulous men.

The Miracles of the Namiya General Store
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In 2012, Atsuya and his 2 childhood friends do something bad and run into an old general store. They decide to stay there until the morning. Late into the night, Atsuya sees a letter in the mailbox. The letter is addressed to the Namiya General Store and the letter was written by someone to consult about worries. Incredibly, the letter was written 32 years ago. The mailbox is somehow connected to the year 1980. Atsuya and his friends decide to write a reply and place their letter in the mailbox.

The Twilight Samurai
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Seibei Iguchi leads a difficult life as a low ranking samurai at the turn of the nineteenth century. A widower with a meager income, Seibei struggles to take care of his two daughters and senile mother. New prospects seem to open up when the beautiful Tomoe, a childhood friend, comes back into he and his daughters' life, but as the Japanese feudal system unravels, Seibei is still bound by the code of honor of the samurai and by his own sense of social precedence. How can he find a way to do what is best for those he loves?

Sanjuro
21% Match

Sanjuro(1962)

Movie8.0/10

Toshiro Mifune swaggers and snarls to brilliant comic effect in Kurosawa's tightly paced, beautifully composed "Sanjuro." In this companion piece and sequel to "Yojimbo," jaded samurai Sanjuro helps an idealistic group of young warriors weed out their clan's evil influences, and in the process turns their image of a proper samurai on its ear.

Kwaidan
21% Match

Kwaidan(1965)

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Taking its title from an archaic Japanese word meaning "ghost story," this anthology adapts four folk tales. A penniless samurai marries for money with tragic results. A man stranded in a blizzard is saved by Yuki the Snow Maiden, but his rescue comes at a cost. Blind musician Hoichi is forced to perform for an audience of ghosts. An author relates the story of a samurai who sees another warrior's reflection in his teacup.

Harakiri
20% Match

Harakiri(1962)

Movie8.4/10

Down-on-his-luck veteran Tsugumo Hanshirō enters the courtyard of the prosperous House of Iyi. Unemployed, and with no family, he hopes to find a place to commit seppuku—and a worthy second to deliver the coup de grâce in his suicide ritual. The senior counselor for the Iyi clan questions the ronin’s resolve and integrity, suspecting Hanshirō of seeking charity rather than an honorable end. What follows is a pair of interlocking stories which lay bare the difference between honor and respect, and promises to examine the legendary foundations of the Samurai code.

The Hidden Blade
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Set in 19th Century Japan a young samurai who finds himself in love with a farm girl leaves his home to begin a new life. He has to take stock of his new life when he is put to the test and ordered to kill a traitor who just happens to be his dearest friend.

Rurouni Kenshin Part II: Kyoto Inferno
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When the Last Sword Is Drawn
17% Match

Kanichiro Yoshimura is a Samurai and Family man who can no longer support his wife and children on the the low pay he receives from his small town clan, he is forced by the love for his family to leave for the city in search of higher pay to support them.