Silent Transition

The Downfall of Osen (1935)
Sunday November 15, 7pm, SIFF Cinema, Seattle

Stranded on the platform of a crowded railway station, a man recalls his youth in a series of flashbacks: A young girl escapes a life of servitude, then sacrifices herself for the boy she loves. Prized for her beauty, Osen (Isuzu Yamada) is the chattel of an unscrupulous and cold-hearted crime lord. She rescues Sokuchi (Daijirô Natsukawa) from death and resolves to support his dream of becoming a doctor.

Adapted from Kyoka Izumi's original story, The Downfall of Osen (1935) is a rare surviving silent feature from the legendary career of Japanese director Kenji Mizoguchi. Yamada shines like a melancholy jewel in the deep, dark, low-angle settings of the inveterate filmmaker and emerging master. The use of benshi narration, a fascinating device intended to "update" silent film with a spoken word and effects soundtrack, creates an observational distancing between the characters and audience, which heightens theatrical qualities of the performance.

Seattle International Film Festival and SIFF Cinema presents The Downfall of Osen with live musical accompaniment and benshi narration in English, performed by the Aono Jikken Ensemble.