One of the greatest artists of Japanese cinema, and one of its earliest filmmakers, Kenji Mizoguchi began his directing career in 1923. Although he made over 85 films in a career which spanned more than 30 years before his death in 1956, over 50 of them have been lost, primarily through studio fires, war damage and poor film preservation.
Born in Tokyo, Mizoguchi developed a passion for painting whilst working as an apprentice in a kimono textile designers. After graduating from art school, he took a job as an actor at the Nikkatsu Studios in Tokyo, before he began directing in 1923.
Bringing a rich, almost textual realism to the cinema, Mizoguchi's films bear a palpable sense of atmosphere, incorporating all elements of design from the meticulously detailed mise-en-scene and intricate sound and lighting design to the long and sweeping camera movements.

Tackling difficult social themes straight on, Mizoguchi's unflinching realism portrays the personal dramas within these fully detailed historical settings. His one abiding theme was a sympathy for the exploited and marginalised members of society, in particular the plight of women and their position in Japanese society (drawn in part from the personal experiences of his sister and mother). Mizoguchi became known as a 'feminist' director, with films like The Life of O'Haru and The Lady of Musashino, yet his sympathies were tempered by an ambivalent and observational detachment towards these 'fallen' women. After winning the International Director's Prize at the 1952 Venice Film Festival for his late masterpiece, The Life of O'Haru, Mizoguchi became an idol for the French New Wave, praised by Godard and Rivette as the 'Master of Mise-en-Scene'.

Selected Filmography

1956 - STREET OF SHAME (Akasen Chitai)
1955 - THE PRINCESS YANG KWEI-FEI (Yokihi)
1955 - NEW TALES OF THE TAIRA CLAN (Shin Heike Monogatari)
1954 - THE WOMAN OF RUMOUR (Uwasa no Onna)
1954 - SANSHO THE BAILIFF (Sansho Dayu)
1954 - CHIKAMATSU MONOGATARI (A Story From Chikamatsu)
1953 - UGETSU MONOGATARI
1953 - GION FESTIVAL MUSIC (Gion Bayashi)
1952 - THE LIFE OF O-HARU (Saikaku Ichidai Onna)
1951 - THE LADY OF MUSASHINO (Musashino Fujin)
1950 - A PICTURE OF MADAM YUKI (Yuki Fujin Ezu)
1949 - MY LOVE HAS BEEN BURNING (Waga Koi wa Moenu)
1948 - WOMEN OF THE NIGHT (Yoru no Onnatachi)
1947 - THE LOVE OF SUMAKO THE ACTRESS (Joyu Sumako no Koi)
1946 - UTAMARO AND HIS FIVE WOMEN (Utamaro o Meguru Gonin no Onna)DVD Blu-ray
1946 - THE VICTORY OF WOMEN (Josei no Shori)
1945 - VICTORY SONG (Hisshoka)
1945 - THE FAMOUS SWORD BIJOMARU (Meito Bijomaru)
1944 - THREE GENERATIONS OF DANJURO (Danjuro Sandai)
1944 - MIYAMOTO MUSASHI
1941 - THE LOYAL 47 RONIN I-II (Genroku Chushingura I-II)
1941 - THE LIFE OF AN ACTOR (Geido Ichidai Otoko)
1940 - THE WOMAN OF OSAKA (Naniwa Onna)
1939 - THE STORY OF THE LAST CHRYSANTHEMUMS (Zangiku Monogatari)DVD Blu-ray
1938 - THE SONG OF THE CAMP (Roei no Uta)
1938 - AH, MY HOME TOWN (Aa Furusato)
1937 - THE STRAITS OF LOVE AND HATE (Aienkyo)
1936 - SISTERS OF THE GION (Gion no Shimai)DVD Blu-ray
1936 - OSAKA ELEGY (Naniwa Ereji)DVD Blu-ray
1935 - POPPY (Gubijinso)
1935 - OYUKI THE MADONNA (Maria no Oyuki)
1934 - THE MOUNTAIN PASS OF LOVE AND HATE (Aizo Toge)
1934 - THE DOWNFALL OF OSEN (Orizuru Osen)
1933 - THE JIMPU GROUP (Jimpuren)
1933 - TAKI NO SHIRAITO, THE WATER MAGICIAN (Taki no Shiraito)
1933 - GION FESTIVAL (Gion Matsuri)
1932 - THE MAN OF THE MOMENT (Toki no Ujigami)
1932 - THE DAWN OF MANCHUKUO AND MONGOLIA (Mammo Kenkoku no Reimei)
1931 - AND YET THEY GO (Shikamo Karera wa Yuku)
1930 - MISTRESS OF A FOREIGNER (Tojin Okichi)
1930 - HOME TOWN (Furusato)
1929 - TOKYO MARCH ( Tokyo Koshinkyoku)
1929 - THE MORNING SUN SHINES (Asahi wa Kagayaku)
1929 - NIHOMBASHI
1929 - METROPOLITAN SYMPHONY (Tokai Kokyogaku)
1928 - A MAN'S LIFE (Hito no Issho)
1927 - THE IMPERIAL GRACE (Ko-on)
1927 - THE CUCKOO (Jihi Shincho)
1926 - THE PASSION OF A WOMAN TEACHER (Kyoren no Onna Shisho)
1926 - THE COPPER COIN KING (Doka O)
1926 - THE BOY OF THE SEA (Kaikoku Danji)
1926 - MY FAULT, NEW VERSION (Shin Ono ga Tsumi)
1926 - MONEY (Kane)
1926 - GENERAL NOGI AND KUMA-SAN (Nogi Taisho to Kuma-san)
1926 - A PAPER DOLL'S WHISPER OF SPRING (Kaminigyo Haru no Sasayaki)
1925 - THE WHITE LILY LAMENTS (Shirayuri wa Nageku)
1925 - THE SONG OF HOME (Furusato no Uta)
1925 - THE HUMAN BEING (Ningen)
1925 - THE EARTH SMILES (Daichi wa Hohoemu)
1925 - STREET SKETCHES (Gaijo no Suketchi)
1925 - SHINING IN THE RED SUNSET (Akai Yun ni Terasarete)
1925 - QUEEN OF THE CIRCUS (Kyokubadan no Joo)
1925 - OUT OF COLLEGE (Gakuso o Idete)
1924 - WOMEN ARE STRONG (Josei wa Tsuyoshi)
1924 - TURKEYS IN A ROW (Shcimencho no Yukue)
1924 - THIS DUSTY WORLD (Jinkyo)
1924 - THE SAD IDIOT (Kanashiki Hakuchi)
1924 - THE QUEEN OF MODERN TIMES (Gendai no Joo)
1924 - SONG OF THE MOUNTAIN PASS (Toge no Uta)
1924 - NO MONEY NO FIGHT (Musen Fusen)
1924 - DEATH AT DAWN (Akatsuki no Shi)
1924 - A WOMAN OF PLEASURE (Kanraku no Onna)
1924 - A CHRONICLE OF MAY RAIN (Samidare Zoshi)
1923 - THE RESURRECTION OF LOVE (Ai ni Yomigaeru Hi)
1923 - THE NIGHT (Yoru)
1923 - THE DREAM PATH OF YOUTH (Seishun no Yumeji)
1923 - IN THE RUINS (Haikyo no Naka)
1923 - HOMETOWN (Furusato)
1923 - FOGGY HARBOR (Kiri no Minato)
1923 - FAILURE'S SONG IS SAD (Haizan no Uta wa Kanashi)
1923 - CITY OF DESIRE (Joen no Chimata)
1923 - BLOOD AND SOUL (Chi to Rei)
1923 - 813: THE ADVENTURES OF ARSÈNE LUPIN