Crucified Lovers

In 1954 Mizoguchi made three films, two of which – Sansho the Bailiff and A Story from Chikamatsu – are set in the past and are shown at the Timeless film festival. But the fast working pace didn’t in the least affect the quality of his output. Both films remain part of the canon of Japanese cinema and delight audiences with their artistic touch, subtlety, and the power of the director’s style. A Story from Chikamatsu, an adaptation of the 18^th century play by Monzaemon Chikamatsu, tells the story of a wife of an avaricious printer and his assistant who, due to a series of misunderstandings, are suspected of treason. Outcast by society, they must escape feudal violence. According to Japanese film critic Tadao Sato, Mizoguchi’s storytelling – long shots, smooth camera movement, careful staging of simultaneous events, spare editing – stem from focusing on actors and the cohesion of their expression. Thanks to this method, the love story presented in the film becomes a painful, intimate journey filled with noble beauty.

Sebastian Smoliński

Kenji Mizoguchi (1898–1956) was a Japanese filmmaker. He directed roughly 100 films between 1923 and 1956, but didn’t gain international attention until the very end of his career. A recurring theme in his work is the social condition of women in Japan, both historically and in modern times. Among his best-known films are The Story of the Last Chrysanthemums (1939), The Life of Oharu (1952) and Ugetsu (1953).

Restored by Kadokawa Corporation and The Film Foundation at Cineric, Inc., in New York, with sound by Audio Mechanics and the cooperation of The Japan Foundation. Special thanks to Masahiro Miyajima and Martin Scorsese for their consultation.