☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
The Story of the Last Chrysanthemums (Zangiku Monogatari)
(1939) – K. Mizoguchi
Mizoguchi's
Edo-era drama focuses on an actor from a family of actors who decides no longer
to live off his father's name but to earn his own fame (motivated because he
loves a woman below his class and must defy his haughty father). The woman then
sacrifices herself for his career. Yes, this is a tear-jerker, or would be,
save for some inconsistency in the characterization of the main actor -- is he
spoiled, too passive, selfish, a real jerk, or someone who lives for love?
Perhaps we are meant to see that he comes too late to realize the true love he
had, but this doesn't really come through. Beautiful settings and sounds of old
Japan!
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