A Page of Madness

A Page of Madness provides a critical analysis of the 1926 Japanese silent film by Teinosuke Kinugasa, examining both its historical context and formal innovations. The book reconstructs the film's production history and reception while situating it within Japan's avant-garde movement of the 1920s. The text includes detailed research on the film's aesthetic techniques, from its rapid montage sequences to its treatment of memory and perception. Gerow analyzes the relationships between the film's style, narrative structure, and its representation of mental illness in early 20th century Japan. The study incorporates archival materials and primary sources previously unavailable in English, including contemporary reviews and production documents. The book also traces how the film was rediscovered in 1971 after being lost for decades. Through this examination of A Page of Madness, Gerow presents the film as a complex intersection of modernism, Japanese film culture, and artistic experimentation. The work reveals tensions between tradition and modernity that characterized Japan's cultural transformations during the interwar period.

Readers value this book as a rare English-language academic analysis of the 1926 Japanese film "A Page of Madness." Reviews indicate it provides context about Japanese film history, modernism, and avant-garde cinema of the 1920s. Likes: - In-depth research and historical background - Analysis of film techniques and symbolism - Explanation of Japanese cultural/artistic movements - Includes production details and reception history Dislikes: - Dense academic writing style - High level of film theory jargon - Some sections feel repetitive - Limited availability and high price One reader on Amazon noted: "Gerow's analysis is thorough but requires prior knowledge of film theory to fully grasp." Ratings: Goodreads: 4.25/5 (8 ratings) Amazon: No ratings available WorldCat: No ratings available The book appears primarily in academic libraries and specialty film collections, with few public reviews available online.

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🎬 A Page of Madness is one of the earliest examples of avant-garde Japanese cinema, originally released in 1926 and believed lost for 45 years until its rediscovery in 1971. 📚 Author Aaron Gerow is a professor at Yale University specializing in Japanese cinema, and his book represents the first full-length study of this groundbreaking film in English. 🎥 The film discussed in the book was made without intertitles, making it one of the few silent films of its era to tell its story purely through visuals and editing. 🌏 The movie's director, Teinosuke Kinugasa, began his career as an onnagata (male actor specializing in female roles) in kabuki theater before transitioning to film. 🎞️ The book explores how the film drew inspiration from European avant-garde cinema while incorporating distinctly Japanese elements, including influences from Noh theater and Buddhist philosophy.