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The Story of the Last Chrysanthemum

Original title: Zangiku monogatari
  • 19391939
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 2h 28m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
3.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Zangiku monogatari (1939)
  • Drama
  • Romance
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 g... Read allThe 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.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.
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
3.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Kenji Mizoguchi
  • Writers
    • Matsutarô Kawaguchi(screenplay)
    • Shôfû Muramatsu(author: novel)
    • Yoshikata Yoda(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Shôtarô Hanayagi
    • Kôkichi Takada
    • Ryôtarô Kawanami
Top credits
  • Director
    • Kenji Mizoguchi
  • Writers
    • Matsutarô Kawaguchi(screenplay)
    • Shôfû Muramatsu(author: novel)
    • Yoshikata Yoda(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Shôtarô Hanayagi
    • Kôkichi Takada
    • Ryôtarô Kawanami
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 16User reviews
    • 37Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 1 nomination

    Photos21

    Yoneko Mogami in Zangiku monogatari (1939)
    Kakuko Mori and Yôko Umemura in Zangiku monogatari (1939)
    Shôtarô Hanayagi and Kakuko Mori in Zangiku monogatari (1939)
    Zangiku monogatari (1939)
    Zangiku monogatari (1939)
    Shôtarô Hanayagi in Zangiku monogatari (1939)
    Shôtarô Hanayagi, Kakuko Mori, and Benkei Shiganoya in Zangiku monogatari (1939)
    Yoneko Mogami and Kakuko Mori in Zangiku monogatari (1939)
    Shôtarô Hanayagi and Kôkichi Takada in Zangiku monogatari (1939)
    Kakuko Mori in Zangiku monogatari (1939)
    Tokusaburo Arashi and Shôtarô Hanayagi in Zangiku monogatari (1939)
    Shôtarô Hanayagi, Kakuko Mori, and Kôkichi Takada in Zangiku monogatari (1939)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Shôtarô Hanayagi
    Shôtarô Hanayagi
    • Kikunosuke Onoueas Kikunosuke Onoue
    Kôkichi Takada
    • Fukusuke Nakamuraas Fukusuke Nakamura
    Ryôtarô Kawanami
    • Eiju Dayuas Eiju Dayu
    Kinnosuke Takamatsu
    • Matsusuke Onoueas Matsusuke Onoue
    Jun'nosuke Hayama
    • Kanya Moritaas Kanya Morita
    Tamitaro Onoue
    • Tamizô Onoueas Tamizô Onoue
    Ichirô Yûki
    • Guest in waiting roomas Guest in waiting room
    Kômei Minami
    • Shintomi greenroom manageras Shintomi greenroom manager
    Jin'ichi Amano
    • Shintomi's onnagataas Shintomi's onnagata
    Haruo Inoue
    • Actoras Actor
    Sumao Ishihara
    • Manager of the travelling companyas Manager of the travelling company
    Kô Hirota
    • Greenroom manager of the travelling companyas Greenroom manager of the travelling company
    Minpei Tomimoto
    • Guest in waiting roomas Guest in waiting room
    Eijirô Hose
    • Travelling actoras Travelling actor
    Nobuko Fushimi
    • Eiryû, a geishaas Eiryû, a geisha
    Kikuko Hanaoka
    • Onaka, a geishaas Onaka, a geisha
    Fujiko Shirakawa
    • Okiku, geishaas Okiku, geisha
    Yoneko Mogami
    • Otsuru, Genshun's daughteras Otsuru, Genshun's daughter
    • Director
      • Kenji Mizoguchi
    • Writers
      • Matsutarô Kawaguchi(screenplay)
      • Shôfû Muramatsu(author: novel)
      • Yoshikata Yoda(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    In Tokyo in 1888, Kikunosuke Onoue, the adoptive son of an important actor, discovers that he is praised for his acting only because he is his father's heir, and that the troupe complains how bad he is behind his back. The only person to talk to him honestly about his acting is Otoku, the wet-nurse of his adoptive father's child. She is fired by the family, and Kikunosuke is forbidden to see her, because of the gossip a relationship with a servant would cause. Kikunosuke falls in love with Otoku, and leaves home to try to make a living on his own merits outside Tokyo. He is eventually joined by Otoku, who encourages him to become a famous actor to regain the recognition of his family. —Will Gilbert
    • year 1885
    • year 1888
    • kanto region
    • honshu island
    • meiji era
    • 34 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This film is said by critics and scholars to epitomize the "one scene = one long shot" aesthetic of director Kenji Mizoguchi. In fact, there are many scenes that have no internal cuts, and the entire film contains almost no close-ups.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director (1975)

    User reviews16

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Female Sacrifice !!!
    The cinema of Kenji Mizoguchi certainly has its share of uninhibited feminism, but it also has its adequate share of realism. He has portrayed Japanese women, their roles and plight in traditional and orthodox Japanese society in variously diverse ways. But he never shied away from making the viewer confront the tough facts and compromise the reality of female oppression, just for the sake of happy endings. His female characters do suffer. The character of Otoku in 'The Story of the Last Chrysanthemum' is an angelic woman who pretty much sacrifices everything for her lover and in the end gets nothing in return. This constant suffering of Otoku has actually made a number reviewers criticise the film and question its agenda. But I disagree with the detractors of the film because for me, the suffering of Otoku in spite of being selfless to a fault represents Mizoguchi's criticism of society as a whole, criticism of a society which oppresses women and enslaves them. A woman can be angelic and downright subservient like Otoku, or she can be abrasive and self-serving like Ayako in 'Osaka Elegy', the patriarchal Japanese society in the end will crush her.

    The camera is incredibly fluid and the movement are at times very symmetrical with a pattern to them. This symmetry of camera movement within the same scene or separate scenes reminded me of the films and camera movements of Max Ophüls. Although the blu ray print isn't that great in comparison to restored prints of other films of the same era, one can't help but notice the incredible attention to detail when it comes to the sets and how Mizoguchi uses them with his camera. There is a very noticeable reluctance to use close-up shots, which is interesting. But for the most remarkable aspect of the film in terms of visual technique is the reliance on numerous extended unbroken, long takes which are just incredibly executed and choreographed. Mizoguchi's use of space within a particular frame is genuinely incredible.

    The romance between Kikunosuke and Otoku is given a layered and complex treatment by Mizoguchi. Their relationship persists for numerous years and we see the gradual changes in their relationship dynamics. Mizoguchi ornaments the film with beautiful singular moments of humanism and emotions which is scattered throughout the film. Moments like Otoku folding Kikunosuke's jacket without being asked to, Kikunosuke's brother not recognising him, Otoku sitting alone in her room in the dark,etc. are moments that will touch the heart of every sensitive viewer.

    I don't think 'The Story of the Last Chrysanthemum' is a perfect film. There are aspects to the film that are a bit too simplistic and a few scenes are stretched out a bit too long for my liking. But having said that, I still consider it to be a special film. One can't help but admire the technical brilliance on show. Mizoguchi's direction is sensitive, subtle and yet complicated in the way he composes his shots and uses his sets. The film has a feminist agenda with its heart in the right place made by one of the masters of world cinema which makes it an easy recommendation.
    helpful•2
    1
    • avik-basu1889
    • Jun 29, 2017

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 15, 1979 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • The Story of the Last Chrysanthemums
    • Production company
      • Shochiku
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $6,125
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 28 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

    Shochiku Celebrates Centenary With Classics at FilMart and the Hkiff
    Shochiku Celebrates Centenary With Classics at FilMart and the Hkiff
    Mar 16Variety Film + TV
    HKIFF45 to Celebrate Shochiku Cinema’s Centenary
    HKIFF45 to Celebrate Shochiku Cinema’s Centenary
    Feb 5AsianMoviePulse

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