Available on YouTube
A Page of Madness (1926)
Written by Yasunari Kawabata & Teinosuke Kinugasa & Minoru Inuzuka & Banko Sawada
Based on the short story by Yasunari Kawabata
Directed by Teinosuke Kinugasa
Starring Masuo Inoue, Ayako Iijima, Yoshie Nakagawa
Released September 24, 1926 (Japan)
RT 78 min.
This is a very strange movie. I was fascinated by the bizarre images from the start. There are no Subtitles. In Japan in 1926 silent films had in theater narrators who would have explained the actions on screen. I confess I could not very much follow the plot but I loved this unique movie. Once I read the Bard post it all made sense
"The film is set in a mental institution in Japan and tells the story of a man who takes a job as a janitor there in order to be close to his wife, who is a patient. He becomes increasingly obsessed with her and attempts to break her out, but his plans are thwarted by the asylum's staff. The film is notable for its use of innovative cinematic techniques, such as double exposure, superimposition, and rapid editing, which create a disorienting and dreamlike atmosphere.
• Lost and Found: The film was lost for 45 years until it was rediscovered by Kinugasa in his storehouse in 1971. It has since been restored and is now considered one of the most important silent films ever made.
• Avant-garde: "A Page of Madness" was created by a group of artists known as the Shinkankakuha, or School of New Perceptions. This group was dedicated to pushing the boundaries of film and creating works that were both experimental and emotionally resonant.
• Critical Acclaim: The film has been praised for its originality, its visual style, and its performances. It has been cited as an influence on a number of filmmakers, including David Lynch and Akira Kurosawa.
Here are some additional details about "A Page of Madness":
• Cast: Masao Inoue, Yoshie Nakagawa, Ayako Iijima
• Music: The film was originally accompanied by live benshi narration and music. A number of different scores have been composed for the film since its rediscovery." From Bard
Ohhhh, what an experience, to watch this without any context. It strikes me as a film for which those "director's commentary" tracks would be incredibly helpful (but, in this case, not the director, obviously).
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