DanTheMan 2
An adaptation of the 1913 play of the same name, Demon Pond blends theatrical artifice with cinematic surrealism offering a compelling lesson in the power of superstition and mythology; defined by a pervasive tension between the ancient and the modern, superstition versus scientific reason, an aquatic tale of life and death. We live as long as we have it, but if we lose it, we die, except the film's true subject is love. We can live without it, but is that really living? In Masahiro Shinoda's lush, romantic, bigger-than-life take on Izumi Kyōka's text, the answer is a resounding no. What starts as a folk horror fantasy with a psychological thriller vibe gradually shifts into full-on action-adventure-meets-disaster film mode once all watery hell breaks loose. Shinoda's is extraordinary in its dreamlike decadence, it's the kind of film that could get by strictly on aesthetic terms, such a feast for the eyes and ears, that it almost wouldn't matter if the story didn't make much sense or even had one to begin with. Set to the swirling strains of Isao Tomita's utterly hypnotic synth score and bolstered by some great acting from its cast, Demon Pond is a fascinating experience; one that arguably runs a little long at two hours, but which remains endlessly captivating thanks to its beauty, elegance, and portrayal of a fable of human love caught in the current of nature's wrath.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
11/22/24
Full Review
Sarfaraz A
Masahiro Shinoda directed this Japanese film, which was adapted by Haruhiko Mimura and Tsutomu Tamura for screenplay from the same-titled play of 1913. Starring my favorite Tsutomu Yamazaki.
The movie is set in 1933. Between Fukui and Gifu there is a pond known as Demon Pond. The legend states that a dragon resides at the bottom of the pond. The village is experiencing a drought, no rain, no drinking water, and no foods. A professor Yamasawa (Yamazaki) from Tokyo arrives by train to the town, where he cannot find water to quench his thirst, so he wanders farther into the countryside, where he discovers fresh water springs and a young woman, Yuri, whom he initially misidentifies as an elderly woman.
A brief chat between Yuri and Yamasawa, who was served tea and pears, explains Yamasawa's search for his closest brother-like friend, Hagiwara. Hagiwara left Tokyo three years ago without informing his parents, found an orphan named Yuri, and married her. He rings a massive bell three times every day to keep the Dragon god from drowning the village. Yamasawa thinks that Yuri is a Dragon goddess who is in love with Hagiwara, much like Hagiwara loves her.
Yuri fears Yamasawa has come to take Hagiwara away from her. While wanting to see Demon Pond, the two friends go in the middle of the night as the desperate and superstitious villagers decide to sacrifice a beautiful n*de virgin woman to break the curse of draught. They choose Yuri, who is currently alone in her house.
The film's first half-hour, which was free of dialogue, was enchanting to watch, as was the set design. The film's dullness is offset by Yamazaki's strong presence. The film focuses on superstitious people who believe in human sacrifice and swap rationality for madness, to whom both urban educated professors Yamasawa and Hagiwara attempt to reason rationally but are unsuccessful. For its time, the final flooding sequence was masterfully executed and did not seem like shoddy visual effects.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
11/09/24
Full Review
Audience Member
One of the most amazing and beautiful films I have ever seen. An artistic and cinematic triumph. Shinoda's telling of this story is compelling and evocative of Japanese "mythology". Tamasaburo Bando V is one of the greatest actors of the 20th Century. Playing not one but *two* female characters, Bando gives an astonishing, incrediby nuanced, and compelling performance. Stanley Kaufmann, when asked by Dick Cavett what makes a movie great, replied, "If it changes your life." This is one of those films.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
01/24/23
Full Review
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