About the Film
The movie compiles footage taken by Ogawa Production for a period of more than ten years after the collective moved to Magino village. Unique to this film are fictional reenactments of the history of the village in the sections titled "The Tale of Horikiri Goddess" and "The Origins of Itsutsudomoe Shrine". Ogawa combines all the techniques that were developed in his previous films to simultaneously express multiple layers of time—the temporality of rice growing and of human life, personal life histories, the history of the village, the time of the Gods, and new time created through theatrical reenactment—bring them into a unified whole. The faces of the Magino villagers appear in numerous roles transcending time and space—sometimes as individuals, sometimes as people who carry the history of the village in their memories, sometimes as storytellers reciting myths, and even as members of the crowd in the fictional sequences.
✨ The Watchlist Wizard Verdict
The Vibe: Magino Village: A Tale is a eye-opening, informative, and deeply engaging documentary and drama movie from 1987. Directed by Shinsuke Ogawa, and starring Junko Miyashita, Renji Ishibashi, Tatsumi Hijikata The movie compiles footage taken by Ogawa Production for a period of more than ten years after the collective moved to Magino village.
Fan Reception: While holding a polarized score of 6.8/10, Magino Village: A Tale retains a dedicated audience who appreciate its unique premise and stylistic choices.
Time Investment: At 3h 42m, this is an epic-length movie that rewards patient viewers with a deeply immersive experience.
Who Should Watch It: Highly recommended for curious minds eager to learn about real-world events. If you enjoy movies that blends documentary with drama elements, Magino Village: A Tale deserves a spot on your watchlist.
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