Ugetsu (1953)

Ugetsu is a 1953 Japanese period fantasy film directed by Kenji Mizoguchi starring Masayuki Mori and Machiko Kyō.  It is based on the stories "The House in the Thicket" and "The Lust of the White Serpent" from Ueda Akinari's 1776 book Ugetsu Monogatari, combining elements of the jidaigeki genre with a ghost story. Drawing from Ueda's tales, the film is set in Japan's civil war–torn Azuchi–Momoyama period. It  follows two brothers, Genjūrō and Tōbei, during Japan's civil war as they pursue their ambitions—Genjūrō as a potter and Tōbei as a would-be samurai. Their quests lead to tragic consequences for their families, highlighting themes of greed, ambition, and the haunting effects of war.