“the transfers for the short version and long version are different. The short version shows a slightly larger frame, but it’s grainier and has higher contrast. I prefer the lower contrast of the long version, as Yoshida’s cinematography is all about the subtle variations of gray.”

“This movie has a reputation for being cryptic and hard to follow, but that reputation is undeserved. I think it’s because the shorter version is more commonly seen, and that version cuts out a lot of important information. The reason for the cut version is because Ichiko Kamichika, the woman who stabbed Osugi in 1916, was a prominent public figure at the time the film was made, and she threatened to sue for invasion of privacy. Apparently, changing her character’s name to Itsuko Masaoka wasn’t enough, and so Yoshida cut out many of her scenes (mainly those that depicted her as a woman desperate for Osugi’s love). Yoshida also cut out several completely unrelated scenes for the shorter version–who knows why. Nevertheless, this long cut is in my opinion the superior film, and it’s the way the film was originally meant to be seen.”