director 14: teshigahara films
hiroshi teshigahara did not make many films in his career, and many of the ones he did make are not easy to come by, but of the few films of his i have seen each of them were brilliant. thanks to his relationship with writer kobe abe some of teshigaharas films rank up there as some of the most unique and thought provoking films ever made. here are the teshigahara films i have seen in order of favorites.
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| sanjurosamurai's Rating | My Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Suna no Onna (Woman in the Dunes) (1964, Unrated)
"are you shoveling to survive, or surviving to shovel?" one lead asks this of the other, and it is a telling question because it was the same question that circled my mind through the entire film up until the point it was asked. without question, woman in the dunes is one of the most unique pictures ever filmed, and its uniqueness brought with it brilliance. the plot is actually absurd and there are a few questions left unanswered, but teshigahara also made sure to answer the most important questions to make this outlandish story actually seem believable on every level. the acting was superb especially okada playing the lead, and the premise of this non horror film was more terrifying than just about any horror film ive ever seen. the cinematography was astounding, some of the best ive ever seen, and the film was effective in everything it attempted from start to finish. the music was also especially perfect for the film. the end of the film didnt go my way at all, but it wasnt supposed to. a genuine masterpiece of cinema. |
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| 2 |
Otoshiana (Pitfall) (1962, Unrated)
absolutely enthralling and near perfect murder mystery/ghost story. my second viewing of a teshigahara film and he is already a director that has my attention, its just too bad he made so few feature films. this is one of the most unique and interesting ways ive ever seen a crime story told. the cinematography was perfect and the acting superb, especially on the part of igawa. as the writer kobo abe had a lot to do with the originality of the story, but teshigahara brings this story to film in flawless fashion. |
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| 3 |
The Face of Another (I Have a Stranger's Face) (Tanin no kao) (1967, Unrated)
what a brilliant film. entrenched in philosophy, the dialogue in the film and the films entire concept were incredibly profound and thought provoking. nakadai put in a great performance as always and the images produced through some great cinematography were perfect for creating just the right feel for the subject matter. a phenomenal film. |
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| 4 |
Antonio Gaudí (1986, Unrated)
more a visual poem than a documentary. it can be argued that teshigahara made a mistake by not using a narrator or providing much information about gaudi's life or career, which is a criticism i agree with, but we have what teshigahara wanted to put on film and it is still quite beautiful to watch. if youre a fan of teshigahara's films or gaudi's architecture than you should see this film, if not then you might not find it very interesting. |
