Willem Dafoe on Onibaba
Willem Dafoe on Onibaba
The singular Willem Dafoe brings us Kaneto Shindô’s Japanese New Wave classic, a delightfully scary tale of 14th century wartime survival.
One of the things I love most about doing this podcast is the chance to be introduced to films I might never have come across. After being blown away by his recent movie Poor Things, Cooper and I were beyond excited when Willem Dafoe agreed to come on the show to talk about the stunning Japanese film Onibaba (1964). I mean Jesus Christ! Yes Willem played Jesus Christ for Scorsese but also…Onibaba blew MY mind. And so did Mr Dafoe. The film is full of primal desire, incredible performances and hyper-dramatic monochromatic photography. In our conversation I loved that he wouldn’t give us easy answers, and resisted our request for advice before giving us some of the best we have heard. From reflections on the craft of theater and movie-making, to why this film was impossible to re-make, we loved every second of this conversation (even the pen-clicking), and I hope you will too. - T.J.
Willem Dafoe joins Tabitha and Cooper to share Onibaba, the 1964 film by the prolific and pioneering Japanese filmmaker Kaneto Shindô. Literally translated as “Demon Hag”, Onibaba is a tale of a mother and daughter-in-law’s murderous quest for survival in the midst of Japan’s medieval civil war. When a man returning from war enters the picture and latent primal urges emerge, all hell breaks loose. The striking black-and-white imagery and percussive soundtrack make for a wildly kinetic ride that is both terrifying and delightful.
As Willem shares what he loves about this classic of the Japanese New Wave, we also learn a bit about Shindô’s extraordinary life, art, and career. Plus, what it is about making film and theater that keeps him inspired, the importance of being in the moment, and the visceral power of cinematic storytelling.
About the Film
To survive in medieval war-torn Japan, two women kill samurai and sell their belongings for food and other necessities. When a neighboring man returns from the war, all hell breaks loose. 1964.
Written by Kaneto Shindô
Directed by Kaneto Shindô
Principal cast:
Nobuko Otowa (Kichi’s mother)
Jitsuko Yoshimura (Kichi’s wife)
Kei Satô (Hachi)
Music by Hikaru Hayashi
Cinematography by Kiyomi Kuroda
Editing by Toshio Enoki
The most dynamic American actor today. By several miles. What a joy to hear this conversation. Thank you! Something of a gem to have his name on the holiday card send out list. Keep up the good work!!