The Story of the Last Chrysanthemums
Encyclopedia
, 1939
) is a Japanese
film directed by Kenji Mizoguchi
.
The film is regarded as one of Mizoguchi's greatest pre-war achievements. Especially notable is Mizoguchi's now mature mise-en-scène compositions and extreme long take
s.
actor, who is training to succeed his father in an illustrious career. While hypocritically praising Onoue's acting to his face, the rest of his father's troupe deride him behind his back. Otoku (Kakuko Mori), the young wet-nurse of Onoue's adoptive father's infant son, is the only one frank enough to disclose his artistic shortcomings and urge him to improve himself. When Otoku is dismissed by Onoue's family for her closeness to the young master, with its potential for scandal, Onoue is outraged and leaves Tokyo to hone his art away from his father, much to the latter's wrath.
Otoku eventually joins Onoue as his common law wife
and encourages him, through many difficult times, to persevere with his career. When Onoue finally has his chance to join a famed Tokyo troupe, and establish himself as a nationally renowned Kabuki actor, Otoku (unknown to Onoue) sacrifices their relationship to enable Onoue to seize this opportunity and reconcile with his father. Though ultimately Onoue's father accepts Otoku as Onoue's wife, this reconciliation comes only when she is already on her deathbed with tuberculosis
– like the wilting chrysanthemums of late fall, she dies at the moment of her husband's theatrical triumph.
1939 in film
The year 1939 in motion pictures can be justified as being called the most outstanding one ever, when it comes to the high quality and high attendance at the large set of the best films that premiered in the year .- Events :Motion picture historians and film often rate...
) is a Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
film directed by Kenji Mizoguchi
Kenji Mizoguchi
Kenji Mizoguchi was a Japanese film director and screenwriter. His film Ugetsu won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival, and appeared in the Sight & Sound Critics' Top Ten Poll in 1962 and 1972. Mizoguchi is renowned for his mastery of the long take and mise-en-scène...
.
The film is regarded as one of Mizoguchi's greatest pre-war achievements. Especially notable is Mizoguchi's now mature mise-en-scène compositions and extreme long take
Long take
A long take is an uninterrupted shot in a film which lasts much longer than the conventional editing pace either of the film itself or of films in general, usually lasting several minutes. It can be used for dramatic and narrative effect if done properly, and in moving shots is often accomplished...
s.
Synopsis
The film is set in Japan in 1885. Kikunosuke Onoue, played in his movie debut by the stage actor Shotaro Hanayagi, is the adoptive son of a famous KabukiKabuki
is classical Japanese dance-drama. Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers.The individual kanji characters, from left to right, mean sing , dance , and skill...
actor, who is training to succeed his father in an illustrious career. While hypocritically praising Onoue's acting to his face, the rest of his father's troupe deride him behind his back. Otoku (Kakuko Mori), the young wet-nurse of Onoue's adoptive father's infant son, is the only one frank enough to disclose his artistic shortcomings and urge him to improve himself. When Otoku is dismissed by Onoue's family for her closeness to the young master, with its potential for scandal, Onoue is outraged and leaves Tokyo to hone his art away from his father, much to the latter's wrath.
Otoku eventually joins Onoue as his common law wife
Common Law Wife
"Common Law Wife" is a song by the funk band Parliament. Recorded in 1972, it was released as a bonus track on the 2003 reissue of the album Chocolate City...
and encourages him, through many difficult times, to persevere with his career. When Onoue finally has his chance to join a famed Tokyo troupe, and establish himself as a nationally renowned Kabuki actor, Otoku (unknown to Onoue) sacrifices their relationship to enable Onoue to seize this opportunity and reconcile with his father. Though ultimately Onoue's father accepts Otoku as Onoue's wife, this reconciliation comes only when she is already on her deathbed with tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
– like the wilting chrysanthemums of late fall, she dies at the moment of her husband's theatrical triumph.