Illustrating violence in a harsh way, Onibaba is breathtaking
In 1964, director Kaneto Shindo released the highly charged and steeped in symbolism, Onibaba. The film is set during the brutal Japanese civil war between rival shogunates.
it's raw yet simplicistic story
Wary from battle, samurais head towards the seven-foot high susuki grass fields to hide, whereupon they are ambushed and murdered by a mother and daughter in-law tandem. They barter the samurais’ armour and weapons for food but a neighbour threatens the two murderers’ partnership.
Onibaba has sensational raw simplicity to it. Its abruptness makes for a near-perfect piece of filmmaking. The cinematography bursts with maturity, giving you endless visions of beauty. The precise imagery helps develop and stir the brewing drama, constantly slapping you in the face with extreme close-ups. The close ups are so powerful and real, you can see the hot white hate in the eyes of the killers.
a breathtaking piece of filmmaking
The cast all give fantastic performances. With her hate filled eyes, Otowa is ferocious as the film’s protagonist. Hikaru Hayashi’s dramatic score of tribal drums adds the final touch of savagery to proceedings. Kaneto Shindo’s direction is decisive and unflawed. He balances artistry with storytelling perfectly well and delivers a film that is just as lean and mean as its unrelenting, deeply scary protagonists.
Onibaba is a breathtaking piece of cinema. It illustrates brutality in a harsh way but delivers it to you in a sophisticated yet powerful manner. Nearly 50 years after its release, Onibaba still makes for compulsive viewing. It’s hard not to be moved by the spellbinding cinematography and well-executed direction.
