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#108: Ugetsu with Ben Haslar

October 11, 2026 · 51 min

Show notes

It’s spooooooky season, so One Track Mind is getting downright supernatural! We’re joined once again by OTM All-Star and one of my best friends Ben Haslar (“Reels of Justice” podcast) for a discussion of East Asian cinema scholar Tony Rayns’ audio commentary for Kenji Mizoguchi’s understated ghost story: 1953’s “Ugetsu”. Among the things discussed: the parallels between this film and “Gilmore Girls”, the Daiei executive with a colorful past, sake classes, making the 16th century evoke postwar Japan, Ben Affleck’s taste in hats, and so much more!

Ryan’s Recommendations: “Ikiru” (1952), “Throne of Blood” (1957), and “Kagemusha” (1980)

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Theme Music by: Bildschirm (bildschirm.bandcamp.com). Artwork by: Lacie Barker.

All episodes of One Track Mind with Ryan Luis Rodriguez

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