A brilliant film, but, due to the camera positioning vis-a-vis the actors, even more than Mizoguchi's later films one designed to be seen on a big cinema screen. Donald Ritchie's pick as just about the best Japanese film ever made.
This was a highly impressive introduction to the famous director. The story was brilliantly told, often surprising, always true.
After thinking about the film I had to change it to five stars, even for Mizoguchi.
4 stars for Mizoguchi but 5 stars compared to most any other director. The great Isuzu Yamada is extraordinary in this film (and apparently still alive).
mmmm... Not "Shimai" (姉妹 Sisters), correct is "Kyoudai" (兄弟 Brothers), but Kanji (Chinise characters) is "Shimai"... even if Japanese, that's not easy subject for this truth. So, correct title is "Gion no kyoudai" (I don't recommend to use "Kyôdai", because Hiragana is "Kyo-U-Da-I" きょうだい and not "Kyohdai" too).
I don't quite get your point. 'Shimai' is correct in Japanese for "sisters," and written in Chinese characters with the character for "older sister" juxtaposed with that of "younger sister" (read as 'ane' and 'imouto' separately but 'shimai' when combined.)
