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I find the cover to be both gorgeous in its own right -- and wonderfully evocative of the film (at least of one stage of the film). In a broader sense, it gives a good sense of an essential aspect of Mizoguchi's overall style.

If one has an insatiable appetite for close-ups, Mizoguchi might prove to be a bit problematic. As for me, while I have some problems with Mizoguchi (here and there), the visual beauty of the films is unquestionable.

However, Sansho is not without its share of lovely closeups.

FSimeoni wrote:

Jem wrote:I think the characters are too small within the frame, they seem lost. Compare the cover to the Naruse 'Repast' and 'Flowing' cover images, in my opinion they are far more successful.

there's no way anyone in their right mind would manipulate the image.

But the cover image HAS been cropped to fit on the vertical cover format?

Yes sorry. What I meant was manipulate them so as to distort the feeling of the image. For example making a mid shot a close up. I don't think we lose the artistic integrity of the shot in the image on the cover, whereas if we had an [extreme] close up on one of the women it would be a completely different image to what it is now (and was).

kinjitsu wrote:However, Sansho is not without its share of lovely closeups.

Oh, it certainly has some -- but no one with a hard-core close-up addiction would find this film wholly satisfactory in this respect.

;~}

FSimeoni wrote:Yes sorry. What I meant was manipulate them so as to distort the feeling of the image.

Yes, agree they shouldn't do that.

Tommaso wrote:Worth mentioning is that the play.com site already has the cover design for Gion bayashi and Sansho dayu, which is not yet on the MoC site. It looks damn gorgeous, so take a look!!

FSimeoni wrote:I have seen it, it's the same cover the BFI used for their cover of their Sansho Dayu VHS. I am waiting to see what the package looks like as well as individual covers on the MoC site.

blindside8zao wrote:It'd be nice if there was some box for this whole series that you could purchase for a few dollars off of the MoC couture section. I'm a little disappointed that I won't get the excitement of getting all of these in one purchase (I love box sets) but at the same time I can understand the better logic of their spacing.

If this is indeed the final cover art I love it. Decidedly different in tone from the Naruse releases which I had expected the Mizoguchi releases to be similar to. I love the transparent red MoC bar at the top.

Also I would like to add that the full eight Mizoguchi covers can be seen in this month's Sight and Sound (that is if indeed they will become the covers as in the issue they lack English language titles, MoC bar and BBFC logos.

If these covers are kept as seen here, untouched from ghastly BBFC logos I believe that this is a stroke of genius as not only do they offer fans the delight of being able to see the original [unspoilt] posters represented in great quality but they won't also put off newbies (as let's face it to the casual buyer they would look dated and lack any English transliteration) due to the outer casing (whatever it may be made of) featuring the previously seen [more modern] still images.

wayyyyyy better than the Sansho cover

These colour ones that are going up (with no English on) are going to be on the inside of reversible sleeves. The same posters (sans MoC bar) will be on the front and back of the 80-page books.

That's Gorgeous, The Murnau's are sublime and now this

peerpee wrote:These colour ones that are going up (with no English on) are going to be on the inside of reversible sleeves. The same posters (sans MoC bar) will be on the front and back of the 80-page books.

So what are we looking at here? I imagine that a 96 page book and two discs would never fit in a 2 disc amaray. I would have thought that you would put the two discs in their own cases (with the poster cover art) inside an outer box (or casing) with the still image cover as seen on websites at the moment for Sansho and Gion and the book produced dvd case size and put in the case a la Naruse boxset? Am I totally off base your description above alludes to something different.

The full eight Mizoguchi covers from this month's Sight and Sound:

All I can say is... Mamma Mia!

peerpee wrote:These colour ones that are going up (with no English on) are going to be on the inside of reversible sleeves. The same posters (sans MoC bar) will be on the front and back of the 80-page books.

Please provide full translation of all the Japanese text on these posters somewhere!

FSimeoni wrote:I imagine that a 96 page book and two discs would never fit in a 2 disc amaray. I would have thought that you would put the two discs in their own cases (with the poster cover art) inside an outer box (or casing) with the still image cover as seen on websites at the moment for Sansho and Gion and the book produced dvd case size and put in the case a la Naruse boxset?

That might be possible, or the will use one of these super-big cases and put the book in there, a la "Kwaidan", in a transparent-case with one poster on each side and then an outer paper box around it which would show the Gion/Sansho design as we already know it. But I would prefer if it would be done a la Naruse. In any case, these poster designs are damn gorgeous.

Gion Bayashi



Sansho Dayu

These posters are pretty enough -- but I guess I am not as big a fan of original poster art as most here. I find most original posters (classic and otherwise) vastly less sophisticated than the films they promote. A well-selected still often seems (to me) far better to embody the true spirit of a film.

I just think they're absolutely gorgeous. As a matter of fact, I was extremely close to purchasing one of these originals a few years back for an ungodly sum of money.

I tend to prefer Criterion's more minimalist and understated designs.

Uwasa no onna



Chikamatsu monogatari



Yokihi



Akasen Chtai

Michael Kerpan wrote:I am not as big a fan of original poster art as most here. I find most original posters (classic and otherwise) vastly less sophisticated than the films they promote. A well-selected still often seems (to me) far better to embody the true spirit of a film.

Can't agree more...

peerpee wrote:These colour ones that are going up (with no English on) are going to be on the inside of reversible sleeves. The same posters (sans MoC bar) will be on the front and back of the 80-page books.

Which means, I assume, that the actual DVD covers will have stills, much like this one from Sansho.

kinjitsu wrote:Which means, I assume, that the actual DVD covers will have stills, much like this.

Which is one reason why I _like_ MOC's exterior cover choices so much.