Ugetsu: Mizoguchi Kenji weaves a subdued portion of supernatural into a pair of heavily anti-war tales, to great effect. The stories are powerful, poetic and sad reflections on ambition and how war affects those that it touches. The characters are simple, but well-defined and easy to connect to. Acting is generally very good: Mori Masayuki is perhaps the centerpiece as the most tragic figure alongside Tanaka Kinuyo. Film craft is superb: from the costume design, which allows the characters’ station to be recognized at a glance, to the use of music; the film has a tight pace, and Miyata Mitsuzoo editing gives preference to extended takes, which showcases the plasticity of Miyagawa Kazuo  cinematography.