Kenji Mizoguchi Ugetsu Monogatari

A documentary film on the life and works of director Kenji Mizoguchi.

Based on a centuries old tale with roots in real events, Chikamatsu Monogatari [A Tale From Chikamatsu, aka The Crucified Lovers] tells the hauntingly tragic story of a forbidden love affair between a merchant’s wife, Osan (Kyoko Kagawa), and her husband’s employee, Mohei (Kazuo Hasegawa), in an era when the punishment for adultery was crucifixion. When a series of innocent events lead to the false accusation of an affair between Osan and Mohei, the accused pair are forced to flee an almost certain death sentence. On the run, the outlaw couple grow closer together, drawn inexorably towards the romantic crime of which they are accused. In the hands of Mizoguchi, Chikamatsu Monogatari depicts two people caught up in a constricted world where true love and social obligation are at odds. His portrayal of the lovers’ dilemma lead famed director Akira Kurosawa to describe the film as “a great masterpiece that could only have been made by Mizoguchi.”
The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present Mizoguchi’s films for the first time on home video in the UK - Chikamatsu Monogatari is only available as a twinpack with Uwasa no Onna.

Shindo's directorial debut is the fictionalized account of the death of his first wife. Following the breakout of the Pacific War, the Japanese film industry was forcibly downsized. Numazaki, a mediocre screenwriter, faces imminent dismissal. His wife Takako encourages him to seek work in Kyoto.

Hajime Mizoguchi (溝口 肇) is a Japanese cellist and composer. Mizoguchi started playing piano in 1963, at the age of 3, and the cello in 1971. From 1978–1985 he attended the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music where he majored in violoncello. While at school, he started playing the cello with Japanese pop-singers and working as a studio musician for radio, TV, films, and albums.

Hajime Mizoguchi (溝口 肇) is a Japanese cellist and composer. Mizoguchi started playing piano in 1963, at the age of 3, and the cello in 1971. From 1978–1985 he attended the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music where he majored in violoncello. While at school, he started playing the cello with Japanese pop-singers and working as a studio musician for radio, TV, films, and albums.

Hajime Mizoguchi (溝口 肇) is a Japanese cellist and composer. Mizoguchi started playing piano in 1963, at the age of 3, and the cello in 1971. From 1978–1985 he attended the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music where he majored in violoncello. While at school, he started playing the cello with Japanese pop-singers and working as a studio musician for radio, TV, films, and albums.

Hajime Mizoguchi (溝口 肇) is a Japanese cellist and composer. Mizoguchi started playing piano in 1963, at the age of 3, and the cello in 1971. From 1978–1985 he attended the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music where he majored in violoncello. While at school, he started playing the cello with Japanese pop-singers and working as a studio musician for radio, TV, films, and albums.