Saturday, July 20, 2013

Portrait of Hell (1969)

Toho
Directed by Shiro Toyoda
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, AnimEigo)

In ancient Japan, a wealthy "Lord" satisfies his every desire at the expense of the suffering peasants. He falls in love with the daughter of a painter and makes her a concubine. The father pleads for her release to no avail. He begins painting portraits of recently killed villagers who have suffered from the brutal reign. Ghosts begin to torment the Lord and he shows signs of cracking. He asks the painter for a portrait of Hell itself, but the painter needs inspiration leading to a tragic fiery showdown. Beautifully filmed on indoor sets that resemble paintings themselves, including the outdoor scenes which take on a surreal quality. Perhaps a bit too literal at times, but still a scathing critique of unrestrained tyranny seen through the eyes of an artist.

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