Overlay: Ugetsu (1953) film rating and content analysis

← Return to Rewinder: AI Analysis of AI Analysis of Film

Errors	Missing	Unverified	Supported
0	0	0	9

How were these counts calculated?

Counts based on original analysis categories (not yet classified).

Errors = Critical Errors + Imprecisions

Missing = Critical Omissions + Notable Gaps

#Q ORIGINAL QUESTION

Regarding the film Ugetsu (1953), what was the film rated (e.g. R, PG, G), and what elements of the film contributed to that rating?

#M ANNOTATED LLM RESPONSE

The 1953 Japanese masterpiece Ugetsu (or Ugetsu Monogatari) is most commonly classified as "Not Rated" (NR) or "Unrated" in the United States, as it predates the modern MPAA rating system and was released primarily in art-house circuits. However, modern international ratings and detailed content advisories provide a clearer picture of its age-appropriateness.

Official Ratings by Region

United States: Officially Not Rated (NR). Modern releases from major distributors like the Criterion Collection are labeled "Unrated."
United Kingdom (BBFC): It is generally rated 12 (suitable for 12 and over), though some older video releases carried a PG certificate.
Australia (ACB): Classified as M (Mature), meaning it is not restricted but recommended for viewers 15 and over due to "mature themes and moderate violence."

Elements Contributing to These Ratings

While Ugetsu is a visually lyrical ghost story, its harsh realism regarding the consequences of war includes several intense and mature elements:

1. Violence and Brutality

The Death of Miyagi: One of the most disturbing scenes involves the main character’s wife, Miyagi, being cornered by starving, marauding soldiers. As she begs for mercy while carrying her young son on her back, she is stabbed with a spear and left to die while the child watches.
Severed Heads: In a subplot involving the secondary character Tobei, he steals the severed head of a general to present it as his own kill to a warlord. While the violence is not depicted with modern graphic "gore," the implications and the sight of the head contribute to a mature rating.
War and Pillaging: The film depicts the "Sengoku" (Civil War) period of Japan with a focus on the chaos of military raids, showing villagers fleeing from burning homes and soldiers looting and terrorizing civilians.

2. Sexual Content and Mature Themes

Implied Rape and Prostitution: Tobei’s wife, Ohama, is separated from him during the war. She is accosted by a group of soldiers who drag her into a building; the rape is only implied by the camera remaining outside and the soldiers tossing coins at her feet afterward. She is later shown working as a prostitute in a brothel, a direct commentary on the plight of "comfort women" during wartime.
Seduction by a Spirit: The main character, Genjuro, is seduced by the ghost Lady Wakasa. Their relationship includes scenes of intimacy and bathing that, while not explicit, carry a strong erotic and supernatural subtext.

3. Supernatural and Psychological Horror

The "Eerie" Factor: The film is celebrated for its atmospheric ghost elements, such as a boat appearing out of a thick mist or the reveal of Lady Wakasa’s demonic true nature. These scenes are designed to be chilling and "uncanny" rather than jump-scare oriented.
Thematic Weight: The film’s core themes—male greed, the abandonment of family for ambition, and the physical and spiritual devastation of war—are considered too heavy for younger audiences to fully grasp without a mature perspective.

#F CORRECTION FEED (CLICK TO SEARCH)

[1] The film is widely listed as Not Rated or Unrated in the US, consistent with its 1953 release date and foreign art-house status.

[2] Criterion Collection and other major US distributors list the film as 'Unrated'.

[3] The Eureka Masters of Cinema Blu-ray release in the UK is rated '12'. Older VHS/DVD releases may have carried different certificates (PG is common for older classics), but '12' is the current standard for the restored version.

[4] In Australia, the film is typically classified 'M' (Mature) for home media, denoting mature themes and moderate violence. Some theatrical or museum screenings (like ACMI) may list it as 'Unclassified 15+'.

[5] This scene is accurate: Miyagi is stabbed with a spear by soldiers while carrying her child, a pivotal moment of violence.

[6] Tobei steals the severed head of a general to claim credit, a key plot point illustrating his ambition and the film's grim realism.

[7] The scene is famously staged this way: Ohama is dragged off, and the camera lingers on the coins thrown by the soldiers, symbolizing the transaction of rape/prostitution.

[8] Critics like Martha P. Nochimson have explicitly linked this subplot to the 'comfort women' of WWII, making this a valid thematic note.

[9] The bathing scene and seduction by Lady Wakasa are central to the film's erotic and supernatural elements.

#O MISSED POINTS & OVERSIGHTS

No oversights detected.

#C RELATED QUERIES

#01 What are the differences between the US and Japanese versions of Ugetsu?

#02 How does Ugetsu depict the 'comfort women' theme compared to other Mizoguchi films?

#03 What specific ghost stories by Ueda Akinari was Ugetsu based on?

#S SOURCES

akirakurosawa.info

#R ORIGINAL AI RESPONSE

▼

The 1953 Japanese masterpiece ***Ugetsu*** (or *Ugetsu Monogatari*) is most commonly classified as **"Not Rated" (NR)** or **"Unrated"** in the United States, as it predates the modern MPAA rating system and was released primarily in art-house circuits. However, modern international ratings and detailed content advisories provide a clearer picture of its age-appropriateness. ### Official Ratings by Region * **United States:** Officially **Not Rated (NR)**. Modern releases from major distributors like the Criterion Collection are labeled "Unrated." * **United Kingdom (BBFC):** It is generally rated **12** (suitable for 12 and over), though some older video releases carried a **PG** certificate. * **Australia (ACB):** Classified as **M (Mature)**, meaning it is not restricted but recommended for viewers 15 and over due to "mature themes and moderate violence." ### Elements Contributing to These Ratings While *Ugetsu* is a visually lyrical ghost story, its harsh realism regarding the consequences of war includes several intense and mature elements: #### 1. Violence and Brutality * **The Death of Miyagi:** One of the most disturbing scenes involves the main character’s wife, Miyagi, being cornered by starving, marauding soldiers. As she begs for mercy while carrying her young son on her back, she is stabbed with a spear and left to die while the child watches. * **Severed Heads:** In a subplot involving the secondary character Tobei, he steals the severed head of a general to present it as his own kill to a warlord. While the violence is not depicted with modern graphic "gore," the implications and the sight of the head contribute to a mature rating. * **War and Pillaging:** The film depicts the "Sengoku" (Civil War) period of Japan with a focus on the chaos of military raids, showing villagers fleeing from burning homes and soldiers looting and terrorizing civilians. #### 2. Sexual Content and Mature Themes * **Implied Rape and Prostitution:** Tobei’s wife, Ohama, is separated from him during the war. She is accosted by a group of soldiers who drag her into a building; the rape is only implied by the camera remaining outside and the soldiers tossing coins at her feet afterward. She is later shown working as a prostitute in a brothel, a direct commentary on the plight of "comfort women" during wartime. * **Seduction by a Spirit:** The main character, Genjuro, is seduced by the ghost Lady Wakasa. Their relationship includes scenes of intimacy and bathing that, while not explicit, carry a strong erotic and supernatural subtext. #### 3. Supernatural and Psychological Horror * **The "Eerie" Factor:** The film is celebrated for its atmospheric ghost elements, such as a boat appearing out of a thick mist or the reveal of Lady Wakasa’s demonic true nature. These scenes are designed to be chilling and "uncanny" rather than jump-scare oriented. * **Thematic Weight:** The film’s core themes—male greed, the abandonment of family for ambition, and the physical and spiritual devastation of war—are considered too heavy for younger audiences to fully grasp without a mature perspective.

#A DIRECT ANSWER (VERIFIED ANALYSIS)

▼

In the United States, Ugetsu (1953) is Not Rated (NR) or Unrated, as it was released before the MPAA system and is distributed via art-house channels (e.g., Criterion Collection). In the UK, the current Blu-ray release is rated 12 (suitable for 12 years and over) by the BBFC, though older releases may have been rated PG. In Australia, it is generally classified M (Mature) for home media, or "Unclassified 15+" for museum screenings. The rating is due to mature themes and moderate violence, specifically: the stabbing death of Miyagi while carrying her child, Tobei's theft of a severed head, the implied rape of Ohama (depicted by soldiers throwing coins), and erotic/supernatural scenes involving Lady Wakasa.

OVERLAY REPORT