Everyone knows Kaneto Shindo from his horror classics 'Kuroneko' and 'Onibaba' and although they're both undoubtedly great films, I've been more impressed by his lesser-known works, like 'Wolf' and 'Human' and now, 'A Scoundrel,' which could be the greatest of the lot. Set in the war-torn 14th century, the film concerns the governor of a province whose chamberlain (the phenomenal Nobuko Otowa, Shindo's wife) tells him of a woman she knew in the Royal court whose beauty could tear a nation apart. The foreshadowing is not so subtle. 'A Scoundrel' was co-written by Shindo and Japan's beloved Junichiro Tanizaki (an author who has not impressed me much, although I've only read very little), and is at once humorous, suspenseful, gruesome, and absolutely fascinating.
Hideo, the youngest son of the NAGURA family, plans to commit double suicide with Haruko, since his father disapproves of their relationship. Hideo’s death brings shame upon the family, yet Haruko survives and raises their son Suteo. 18 years later, Suteo becomes entangled in another family tragedy. With its sharp critique of family traditions and its non-linear structure, THE SNOW FLURRY is one of the forerunners of the Japanese Nouvelle Vague. 源自: