Onibaba
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Sun 20 February 2005 // 20:00
ONIBABA
(Kaneto Shindo / 1964 / Japan (subtitles) / 98mins / 35mm / cert15)
(Sun 20th / 8pm / £4/3)
Deep within the lonely windswept marshes of war-torn medieval Japan, an impoverished mother and her daughter-in-law eke out a desperate existence by murdering passing samurai and selling their belongings for grain. When a bedraggled young neighbour returns from the skirmishes, he triggers an outburst of palpable sexual tension and deadly jealousy.
Historically a big favorite on the British arthouse circuit, Onibaba features stunning, lyrical black and white photography, a frenzied percussive soundtrack and a wonderfully claustrophobic atmosphere of impending doom.
Still working to this day, director Shindo’s film is a surprisingly complex assault on class and gender politics. It's an absolutely knock-out horror thriller – angry, excessive and hypnotic. Miss this ultra-rare 35mm cinema screening at your peril.
(Kaneto Shindo / 1964 / Japan (subtitles) / 98mins / 35mm / cert15)
(Sun 20th / 8pm / £4/3)
Deep within the lonely windswept marshes of war-torn medieval Japan, an impoverished mother and her daughter-in-law eke out a desperate existence by murdering passing samurai and selling their belongings for grain. When a bedraggled young neighbour returns from the skirmishes, he triggers an outburst of palpable sexual tension and deadly jealousy.
Historically a big favorite on the British arthouse circuit, Onibaba features stunning, lyrical black and white photography, a frenzied percussive soundtrack and a wonderfully claustrophobic atmosphere of impending doom.
Still working to this day, director Shindo’s film is a surprisingly complex assault on class and gender politics. It's an absolutely knock-out horror thriller – angry, excessive and hypnotic. Miss this ultra-rare 35mm cinema screening at your peril.