From director Kenji Mizoguchi (Sansho the Bailiff), this Japanese film was featured in the book of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, obviously I had not read anything about prior to watching it, but that didn't matter, I was watching whatever. Basically, set in Tokyo in 1888, Kikunosuke Onoue (Shôtarô Hanayagi) is the adoptive son of an important famous Kabuki actor, he is the heir to his father, and that he finds out is the only reason he is praised as an actor himself. Behind his back the acting troupe complain about how bad he is, and the only person to be honest and talk to him about it is wet-nurse Otoku (Kakuko Mori), but she the family fire her. Kikunosuke is forbidden from seeing her because the family want to avoid the gossip that would be caused about one of them having a relationship with a servant. He has fallen in love with Otoku however, so he leaves home to be with her and try to find a better living as an actor outside of Tokyo, and also to try and gain respect back from his family. Also starring Gonjurô Kawarazaki as Kikugoro Onoue V, Kôkichi Takada as Fukusuke Nakamura, Ryôtarô Kawanami as Eiju Dayu, Nobuko Fushimi as Onaka, geisha, Benkei Shiganoya as Genshun Amma, Yôko Umemura as Osata, Kikugoro's wife, Tamitaro Onoue as Tamizo Onoue, Kisho Hanayagi as Tamisaburo Onoue and Tokusaburo Arashi as Shikan Nakamura. The acting is fine, the costumes and sets are good, and the long takes are interesting most of the time, I will be honest and say that some of the story was a little difficult to follow and keep up with, but I can see that this does represent well the insight into the roles of women in Japanese society, overall I agree it is a worthwhile period melodrama. Very good!
