Erzählung von den späten Chrysanthemen (1939)

Erzählung von den späten Chrysanthemen: Directed by Kenji Mizoguchi. With Shôtarô Hanayagi, Kôkichi Takada, Ryôtarô Kawanami, Kinnosuke Takamatsu. The adopted son of a legendary actor, and an aspiring star himself, turns to his infant brother’s wet nurse for support and affection – only for her to give up everything for her beloved’s glory.

“Along with u0026quot;Sisters of the Gionu0026quot;(1936) and u0026quot;Osaka Elegyu0026quot;(1936), u0026quot;Zangiku monogatariu0026quot; is a strong candidate for Kenji Mizoguchiu0026#39;s finest pre-war film. It is one of the greatest and most beautiful films I have ever seen – a profoundly sublime, heartbreaking love story between a Kabuki actor(Shotaro Hanayagi) and working class servant (Kakuko Mori) who makes sacrifices to herself to ensure his theatrical success. The film, filled with dazzling long takes and rich Sternbergian compositions, centers on Mizoguchiu0026#39;s characteristic theme: the shallowness of men and the generosity of women. Rarely has a Mizoguchi film seem at once so sublime and devastating in its impact. The final sequence alone is among the finest in all of cinema.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eMy favorite Mizoguchi remains u0026quot;The Life of Oharuu0026quot;(1952); u0026quot;Zangiku monogatariu0026quot; is not very far behind.”