Movie spotlight
Ghost of the Mirror
Adapted from a Tang Dynasty fantasy tale, Sung Chuen-sau used the story of a scholar meeting a female ghost at night, but emphasised neither the killing nor horror but the literary and romantic elements. Scholar Chan (Shih Chun) stays in a remote mansion outside the city. People often fall into the mansion’s well for no apparent reason. Chan looks into it. Later, he sees the girl from the well, Susu (Brigitte Lin), waving to him. She begins to wait on him nightly. Susu was from a wealthy family, but was running away from bandits during wartime, and committed suicide by jumping into the well rather than be caught. After her death, her spirit was controlled by Du Long (Pai Lin). Du Long has forced her many times to harm Chan, but she never has the heart to carry it through. Chan’s pity for her soon becomes love. He goes into the well to retrieve an old bronze mirror, and eventually succeeds in freeing Susu. In the end, to rescue Chan, Susu fights with Du Long and they destroy each other.
Insights
Plot Summary
A young woman named Mari visits her family's ancestral home, seeking solace after a recent tragedy. Upon arrival, she is drawn to an old, ornate mirror that seems to hold a spectral presence. As Mari becomes increasingly fixated on the mirror, she begins to experience unsettling visions and disturbing episodes that blur the lines between reality and the supernatural, uncovering dark secrets of her family's past.
Critical Reception
While not widely released internationally, 'Ghost of the Mirror' is recognized within certain circles of Japanese experimental and erotic cinema. It's often noted for its artistic ambition and unsettling atmosphere, though its challenging themes and narrative style have led to a polarized critical response.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its unique visual style and unsettling psychological horror.
Criticized for its deliberate pacing and enigmatic narrative structure.
Seen as a significant, albeit niche, work within Kôji Wakamatsu's filmography.
Google audience: Audience reception is difficult to quantify due to limited availability, but discussions often highlight the film's atmospheric tension and abstract storytelling, with some viewers finding it profoundly affecting and others feeling alienated by its experimental nature.
Fun Fact
Kôji Wakamatsu was known for his provocative and often controversial approach to filmmaking, and 'Ghost of the Mirror' is considered one of his more surreal and art-house oriented works.
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