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Chikamatsu Monogatari / Uwasa No Onna on DVD (1954)

Chikamatsu Monogatari / Uwasa No Onna cover art
Average rating: 78%
1111111220718
4.0
from 115 members
 
Starring: Kyoko Kagawa, Kazuo Hasegawa, Kinuyo Tanaka, Yoshiko Kuga
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Studio: EUREKA ENTERTAINMENT
Run time: 186 mins
Certificate: 12
Genres: Drama, Romance, World Cinema
Languages: Japanese
Subtitles: English
Released: 25/02/2008

Brief synopsis of Chikamatsu Monogatari / Uwasa No Onna

Based on a centuries old tale with roots in real events, Chikamatsu Monogatari tells the hauntingly tragic story of a forbidden love affair between a merchant's wife, Osan (Kyoko Kagawa), and her husband's employee, Mohei (Kazuo Hasegawa), in an era when the punishment for adultery was crucifixion.

When a series of innocent events lead to the false accusation of an affair between Osan and Mohei, the accused pair are forced to flee an almost certain death sentence. On the run, the outlaw couple grow closer together, drawn inexorably towards the romantic crime of which they are accused.

Released the same year, Uwasa No Onna offers a contrasting portrait of attitudes concerning love and relationships. Set in a modern Kyoto geisha house, the film revolves around Hatsuko, (Kinuyo Tanaka), madame of her own geisha house. When Hatsuko ends up pursuing the same man as her daughter, Yukiko (Yoshiko Kuga), both women are forced to confront their attitudes towards each other and the family business.

All DVDs in this series

Chikamatsu Monogatari
Based on a centuries old tale with roots in real events, Chikamatsu Monogatari tells the hauntingly tragic sto... 		Sign up
Uwasa No Onna
Uwasa No Onna offers a contrasting portrait of attitudes concerning love and relationships. Set in a modern Ky... 		Sign up

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Rated - 5 starsAn essential double-bill

Savage from London, England [Highly rated reviewer] , 18/06/2008

Continuing Eureka's inspired pairings of costume and contemporary Mizoguchi dramas, this has one of his very best films, 'Chikamatsu monogatari', and one of his lesser-known ones, 'Uwasa no onna/The woman of rumour'. In the first, a pair wrongly accused of being lovers try to flee cruel fate, only to find themselves unable to escape the ironies of their situation, until eventually they do indeed fall in love. In the second, set in Kyoto of the nineteen fifties, the mistress of a louche Geisha house competes with her sensitive daughter for the affections of a young doctor who may not be worth either of them. As usual with Mizoguchi, the direction is understated, but effortlessly graceful, carefully matching mood to action and challenging the audience to understand the full implications of each narrative twist. The performances are marvellous, beautifully blending melodramatic and naturalistic styles, and, although there are more famous films by this director - indeed, everything he ever made ought to be seen by anyone interested in cinema - this is a cracking double bill.

  4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 3 starsreview for Chikamatsu Monogatari

itstinks , 06/05/2008

A melodrama which reminds me of similar stories in Indian cinema, the master of the house is a philanderer who is quick to attack other peoples lack of standards, is unloving to his wife and unwilling to help either his or her relatives. At an early stage a samurai and the mistress of a house have been condemned to death for having an affair across the social caste system. Mohei is a star employee trying to do his best for the master and mistress but out of his good heart and attempts at honesty he and the mistress are falsely accused of having an affair and flee for their lives. The master's competitors are happy to gain capital of his dilemma and story ends in tragedy with people happily taking advantage of others misfortune aided by the hypocracy of the times.ok but not essential.

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Rated - 5 starsChikamatsu Monogatari

A customer from London , 21/07/2008

What a wonderful film. The period detail was perfect, and the story truly Shakespearean in its portrayal of human tragedy. A superb introduction to Mizoguchi's work.

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Rated - 3 starsreview for Chikamatsu Monogatari

itstinks , 06/05/2008

A melodrama which reminds me of similar stories in Indian cinema, the master of the house is a philanderer who is quick to attack other peoples lack of standards, is unloving to his wife and unwilling to help either his or her relatives. At an early stage a samurai and the mistress of a house have been condemned to death for having an affair across the social caste system. Mohei is a star employee trying to do his best for the master and mistress but out of his good heart and attempts at honesty he and the mistress are falsely accused of having an affair and flee for their lives. The master's competitors are happy to gain capital of his dilemma and story ends in tragedy with people happily taking advantage of others misfortune aided by the hypocracy of the times.ok but not essential.

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