The Life of Oharu
During the Edo Period, a noblewoman's banishment for her love affair with a lowly page signals the beginning of her inexorable fall.
Where to watch The Life of Oharu in United States
Criterion Channel
Fawesome
PlexClick a service to open The Life of Oharu there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.
Where is The Life of Oharu streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Criterion Channel, Fawesome, Plex | — |
| India | Plex | — |
| United Kingdom | Plex | — |
| Canada | Criterion Channel, Plex | — |
| Australia | Plex | — |
| Germany | Plex | — |
| France | Plex | — |
| Spain | Filmin, Plex | — |
| Brazil | Belas Artes à La Carte, Plex | — |
| Japan | Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Plex | Amazon Video |
About The Life of Oharu
The Life of Oharu is a 1952 Japanese-language drama film directed by Kenji Mizoguchi. The cast is led by Kinuyo Tanaka, Tsukie Matsuura, Ichirō Sugai. It has a runtime of 2h 16m. Viewers rate it 7.7/10 across 200 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on Criterion Channel, Fawesome, Plex.
The Life of Oharu was produced by Koi Productions, Shintoho Company, and TOHO and made in Japan. It was released on April 17, 1952.
- Director
- Kenji Mizoguchi
- Writers
- Kenji Mizoguchi, Yoshikata Yoda
- Release date
- April 17, 1952
- Original language
- Japanese
- Status
- Released
- Country
- Japan
- Production
- Koi Productions, Shintoho Company, TOHO
The Life of Oharu cast & crew
The Life of Oharu was directed by Kenji Mizoguchi and written by Kenji Mizoguchi and Yoshikata Yoda.
The cast features Kinuyo Tanaka as Oharu, Tsukie Matsuura as Tomo, Ichirō Sugai as Shinzaemon, Hisako Yamane as Lady Matsudaira, Toshirō Mifune as Katsunosuke, and Jūkichi Uno as Yakichi Ogiya.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Ichirō Saitō, cinematography is by Yoshimi Hirano, and it was produced by Hideo Koi and Kenji Mizoguchi.
Is The Life of Oharu worth watching?
The Life of Oharu holds an audience score of 7.7/10 from 195 ratings, marking it as well-reviewed drama films.
At 2h 16m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy drama, The Life of Oharu is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch The Life of Oharu
In United States, you can stream The Life of Oharu on Criterion Channel, Fawesome, and Plex. Click any service above to open it directly.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
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Cast of The Life of Oharu
Kinuyo Tanaka
Oharu
Tsukie Matsuura
Tomo
Ichirō Sugai
Shinzaemon
Hisako Yamane
Lady Matsudaira
Toshirō Mifune
Katsunosuke
Jūkichi Uno
Yakichi Ogiya
Eitarō Shindō
Kahe Sasaya
Akira Ōizumi
Fumikichi
Masao Shimizu
Kikuoji
Daisuke Katō
Tasaburo Hishiya
Toranosuke Ogawa
Yoshioka
Eijirō Yanagi
Counterfeiter
The Life of Oharu — FAQs
▸Where can I watch The Life of Oharu in United States?
The Life of Oharu is streaming on Criterion Channel, Fawesome, Plex in United States.
▸Is The Life of Oharu on Criterion Channel?
Yes — The Life of Oharu is currently available on Criterion Channel in United States.
▸What language is The Life of Oharu in?
The Life of Oharu is originally in Japanese. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is The Life of Oharu?
The Life of Oharu runs 2 hours 16 minutes (136 minutes).
▸What is The Life of Oharu rated?
It holds a 7.7/10 audience score from 195 ratings.
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