The Ginger Tree (1989– )

In 1903, a young Scotswoman goes to join her diplomat fiancé in Manchuria. She marries him, and finds herself in a war zone. Disenchanted with her husband, she falls in love with a married ... See full summary »

Stars:

Daisuke Ryû, Noriko Aida, Jean Badin

2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Daisuke Ryû	...	Count Kentaro Kurihama (4 episodes, 1989)

Storyline

In 1903, a young Scotswoman goes to join her diplomat fiancé in Manchuria. She marries him, and finds herself in a war zone. Disenchanted with her husband, she falls in love with a married Japanese nobleman, Count Kentaro Kurihama, and bears him a son. She carves out a life for herself in Japanese society, despite the hardships and ostracism she faces as both a Westerner and a woman.

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Plot Keywords:

army | tv mini series | world war two | japan | mother child separation | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

14 October 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

El árbol del jengibre

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Hallet Street Productions, NHK

Technical Specs

Runtime:

240 min 60 min (4 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The first high-definition television drama to air in the United States.

User Reviews

The Ginger Tree

This is a compelling, beautifully composed story of cross cultures, race, gender roles, and stereotypes. The acting was superb and the characters well developed. It also demonstrates how love can endure, even through difficult choices and sacrifices. Set in the same era as Puccini's Madama Butterfly, it shows us a time and place that was once exotic during a time when class and family customs trumped personal choice.

Oswald Wynd's book of the same name, and from which this series was created, is a good read, but this visually stunning mini-series is worth seeing again and again. PBS no longer has the rights to show it, so, for the moment, it is lost to all of us. I have been looking for this to come out, first on VHS, and now on DVD to no avail.