The Life of Oharu

Tickets

This epic portrait of the fall from grace of an imperial lady-in-waiting is one of the most poignant and beautiful films ever produced.

Oharu, a 50-year-old woman living in Edo-period Japan, looks back at her life. Born into a noble family, Oharu sees how her slide into prostitution has been governed by callous and cruel men. Kinuyo Tanaka gives a remarkable performance, never allowing Oharu to come across just as a victim and transforms her into one of cinema’s most unforgettable characters.

Mizoguchi is famous for his nuanced portrayals of women’s lives and for implicitly questioning their second-class status in Japanese society. His graceful direction and the beauty of his compositions that resemble classic Japanese art, make this the subtlest of melodramas – but also one of the most heartbreaking.

Japan 1952. Director Kenji Mizoguchi. With Kinuyo Tanaka, Toshiro Mifune. 136 mins. PG

This is one of 6 films showing at BAC as part of Too Much: Melodrama on Film, a season organised by the BFI and the Film Audience Network. The season will be screening at cinemas across the UK during autumn 2025.

Tickets from £5. 10% off for BAC Supporters

Special offer
Buy tickets for 5 or more films and receive a 25% discount.
All tickets will need to be purchased at the same time. This offer only applies to full priced tickets in the Sep-Dec 2025 programme and cannot be used in conjunction with other offers (eg BAC Supporters’ discount). Offer excludes Metropolis and Met Opera broadcasts.