Not a very well-known film even among Mizoguchi fans, this film is yet another good work coming from one of the masters of Japanese cinema. Starring a great Japanese actress "Kinuyo Tanaka", who at the same time plays an actress role in the plot, this is definitely a film that has a lot to offer.
Shimamura is a restless dramatist that wants to introduce western theater from authors like Ibsen in Japan. One day he sees Sumako arguing with his husband and intending to leave him, he interferes in the arguing and manages to calm it down. From there on both would forge a great bond and relationship that would not be free of guilty feelings from both sides; also, he would find in Sumako an excellent actress. So as to be alongside Sumako, even though he knows he's doing wrong, Shimamura abandons his family and goes touring with her and his crew through many important theaters in Japan.
The acting is superb, Kinuyo Tanaka is really a delight on screen, and you can see her here playing many different roles according to the play being performed. Also, all the plays are mostly in a few sequences, so you have a great panorama of what is being played as though you actually were sitting on the theater itself.
Notwithstanding the fact that this film gets sort of predictable at times (I sure knew Shimamura was going to die when he first started feeling bad), and that it feels a little bit rushed (the love between him and Sumako happens so fast that it is hard to believe), this film is still worth watching. One scene to point out in the film would be the last one, that's really a beautiful shot.
So if you are looking for another film to watch from Mizoguchi, or if you were doubting about watching this one or not, do not hesitate, even though the film might not be as good as his other efforts, it is still a good one.
My score: 8.3/10
Shimamura is a restless dramatist that wants to introduce western theater from authors like Ibsen in Japan. One day he sees Sumako arguing with his husband and intending to leave him, he interferes in the arguing and manages to calm it down. From there on both would forge a great bond and relationship that would not be free of guilty feelings from both sides; also, he would find in Sumako an excellent actress. So as to be alongside Sumako, even though he knows he's doing wrong, Shimamura abandons his family and goes touring with her and his crew through many important theaters in Japan.
The acting is superb, Kinuyo Tanaka is really a delight on screen, and you can see her here playing many different roles according to the play being performed. Also, all the plays are mostly in a few sequences, so you have a great panorama of what is being played as though you actually were sitting on the theater itself.
Notwithstanding the fact that this film gets sort of predictable at times (I sure knew Shimamura was going to die when he first started feeling bad), and that it feels a little bit rushed (the love between him and Sumako happens so fast that it is hard to believe), this film is still worth watching. One scene to point out in the film would be the last one, that's really a beautiful shot.
So if you are looking for another film to watch from Mizoguchi, or if you were doubting about watching this one or not, do not hesitate, even though the film might not be as good as his other efforts, it is still a good one.
My score: 8.3/10