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With Beauty and Sorrow

Name: With Beauty and Sorrow
Director: Masahiro Shinoda
Released: 1965
Duration: 106 min

Representation Score

6.5/10

Good

1965

Director

Masahiro Shinoda

Runtime

106 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Masahiro Shinoda’s direction uses the Japanese New Wave style to challenge social hierarchies and conventional storytelling. By focusing on a non-straight relationship, the film highlights queer experiences as central to the drama rather than a side note. The film stands out by positioning women as intellectual agents of change, disrupting traditional gender roles. This focus on female intelligence and psychological complexity offers a nuanced take on romance. Though the film does not feature a wide range of ethnicities, it critiques traditional social structures. It replaces simple morality with a complex exploration of vengeance and systemic issues.

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Category Breakdown

Does With Beauty and Sorrow have LGBTQ+ representation?

Excellent

The film focuses on a lesbian relationship between a painter and her student, which drives the main plot of revenge.

How does With Beauty and Sorrow portray gender?

Good

Women play key roles in the story by using strategic planning and intellect to shape the central conflict, rather than being passive.

How racially and ethnically diverse is With Beauty and Sorrow?

Fair

This Japanese film offers a unique non-Western perspective on romance and social retribution. It avoids Western cinematic norms by presenting a culturally specific view.

How does With Beauty and Sorrow represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The story examines an ethical dilemma by breaking down the traditional family structure. It emphasizes individual psychological truth over societal norms and prescribed morals.

Does With Beauty and Sorrow include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no discernible evidence regarding the portrayal of physical or neurodivergent disabilities in this work.

Present on Screen

Highlights a lesbian relationship as the main driver of the film's tension.
Empowers women through their intellectual ability to act and strategic revenge plans.
Breaks down traditional family structures and explores complex ethics.
Offers a non-Western perspective on romance and social retribution.

Limited or Absent

Could benefit from more diverse ethnic representation.
Does not include representations of physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Official Synopsis

When the man who seduced famous painter Otoko Ueno as a teenager–and then wrote a bestselling novel about it–reappears in her life, her pupil–and lesbian lover–hatches a plot to destroy the man and his livelihood.

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