Chikamatsu Monogatari

1954

1h 56m

Drama

History

List

100%

Tomatometer

7 Reviews

93%

Audience Score

250+ Ratings

In 17th-century Japan, Ishun (Eitaro Shindo) flourishes in business but remains stingy and cruel, often mistreating his wife, Osan (Kyoko Kagawa). When her bumbling brother desperately needs money, Osan teams up with Ishun's employee, Mohei (Kazuo Hasegawa), and steals the sum from her husband. After Ishun learns of the theft, he accuses Osan and Mohei of having an affair. Afraid of Ishun's wrath, the pair flee, and become lovers while on the lam. But Ishun's men aren't far behind.

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Jaime N. Christley

Village Voice

This truly is a story from Chikamatsu, within which the ballad of Mohei and Osan exerts a pitiless mechanical force, like a trebuchet, that forever alters the lives of those around them.

Apr 5, 2018

Full Review

Richard Brody

New Yorker

Condenses a wide array of injustices-as well as an extraordinary romantic power-into its brisk and wide-ranging action.

Apr 2, 2018

Full Review

Nathanael Hood

The Retro Set

Here is the rare Japanese period film of its era that also explicitly recognizes the double standards of sexual morality between the sexes...

Rated: 7/10

Mar 11, 2019

Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

'A Story from Chikamatsu' will make you angry, but first it will move you to the core.

Rated: 4/4

Dec 20, 2018

Full Review

Benjamin Wang

Film Inquiry

This film may be a better starting point than other films by Mizoguchi. It's less mystical than the frequently canonized Sansho the Bailiff and Ugetsu, and more high-concept than The Story of the Last Chrysanthemums. Of course, it's just as rich.

Sep 19, 2018

Full Review

Anton Bitel

Film4

Hardly Mizoguchi's finest film, but this period passion play has moments of brilliance amidst all the complicated melodrama.

Feb 19, 2008

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xristiana k

This is a best movie ive ever seen..!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/27/23

Full Review

David J

A genuine masterpiece from the greatest Director of them all, in my personal view. One of his greatest films, along with Sansho, Ugetsu and the Story of the Late Chrysanthemums.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/27/22

Full Review

william k

Kenji Mizoguchi stages this harrowing and heart-wrenching tragedy with a superb cast and beautiful black-and-white cinematography.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

william d

A very good romantic tragedy about two lovers willing to pay the ultimate price. Eitaro Ozawa is excellent as the cruel husband and Yoko Minamida is absolutely beautiful.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

spencer p

While it seems more of a run-of-the-mill production for Kenji Mizoguchi, "A Story From Chikamatsu" has a surprisingly timeless premise mixed with the terrifying repercussions it would've had in a past age.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Strong in drama-level, as well as emotionally tragic, Kenji Mizoguchi's love story posses a great production value an strong performances to sustain a harsh romance, benefit from a passionate script, great direction and strong-thought-provoking subjects for us, the audience, to hold on to, especially considering the time period in which this raw flick came, becoming a memorable but almost forgotten entry in Japanese cinema.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

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Kenji Mizoguchi

Director

Kazuo Hasegawa

Mohei

Kyoko Kagawa

Osan

Yoko Minamida

Otama

Eitaro Shindo

Ishun

Sakae Ozawa

Sukeemon

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Synopsis

In 17th-century Japan, Ishun (Eitaro Shindo) flourishes in business but remains stingy and cruel, often mistreating his wife, Osan (Kyoko Kagawa). When her bumbling brother desperately needs money, Osan teams up with Ishun's employee, Mohei (Kazuo Hasegawa), and steals the sum from her husband. After Ishun learns of the theft, he accuses Osan and Mohei of having an affair. Afraid of Ishun's wrath, the pair flee, and become lovers while on the lam. But Ishun's men aren't far behind.

Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Producer: Masaichi Nagata
Screenwriter: Yoshikata Yoda, Monzaemon Chikamatsu
Production Co: Daiei Studios
Genre: Drama, History
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 6, 2018
Runtime: 1h 56m

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