The Mizoguchi collection
(Box Set Rental DVD)

Made in 1946

Cast: Isuzu Yamada, Seichi Takegawa, Shotaro Hanayagi, Kakuko Mori, Kokichi Takada, Yoko Umemura, Benkei Shiganoya, Minosuke Bando, Kinuyo Tanaka, Kotaro Bando

Credits: music, Shiro Fukai; music, Senji Ito; music, Tamezo Mochizuki; music, Hisato Osawa; cinematographer, Minoru Miki

Four films from the celebrated Japanese director. 'Osaka Elegy' (1936) relates the story of a young woman, Ayako Murai (Isuzu Yamada), who engages in a series of affairs to raise money for her family. Initially, she embarks on a relationship with her boss to obtain the money to stop her father going to prison for embezzlement. However, when she begins a second relationship with a work colleague to try and earn money for her brother and boyfriend, Ayako is in danger of going too far and getting herself in trouble. 'The Story of the Last Chrysanthemum' (1939) follows Kikunsoke Onoue (Shotaro Hanayagi), a young actor who is shocked to discover that people have only been patronising him by saying that he is talented. The only person who seems willing to tell him the truth about his acting to his face is Otoku (Kakuko Mori), a servant his family fire and ban him from seeing due to fear of the scandal a relationship between the pair would cause. Kikunsoke and Otoku leave together and Kikun

BBFC code: PG