The Crucified Lovers | |
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Film poster
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Directed by | Kenji Mizoguchi |
Produced by | Masaichi Nagata |
Written by |
Yoshikata Yoda Matsutarō Kawaguchi Chikamatsu Monzaemon (story) |
Starring |
Kazuo Hasegawa Kyōko Kagawa Yōko Minamida Eitarō Shindō |
Music by |
Fumio Hayasaka Tamezō Mochizuki |
Cinematography | Kazuo Miyagawa |
Edited by | Kanji Sugawara |
Distributed by | Daiei Film |
Release date
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November 23, 1954 |
Running time
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102 min. |
Country | Japan |
Language | Japanese |
The Crucified Lovers (近松物語 Chikamatsu Monogatari?, literally, "A Story From Chikamatsu") is a 1954 black-and-white Japanese film directed by Kenji Mizoguchi. It was adapted from Chikamatsu Monzaemon's 1715 jōruri play Daikyōji Mukashi Goyomi (大経師昔暦).
Ishun (Shindo) is a wealthy but miserly scroll-maker in Kyoto, especially regarding his younger wife Osan (Kagawa), who was from an impoverished family, and married Ishun for money.
When Osan's brother asks for a loan, he is refused. Osan then seeks help from Mohei (Hasegawa) - one of Ishun's top apprentices, who forges a receipt in an attempt at obtaining the money from Ishun, but is caught. Ishun threatens to summon the authorities, but a maid (Minamida) asks him to forgive the act, claiming that she had asked for the money. Ishun has made advances toward the maid, who has refused him. Ishun then assumes the maid (who is secretly in love with Mohei) is sleeping with Mohei, and Ishun orders Mohei locked up in the attic.
When Osan thanks the maid for attempting to help, she discovers her husband's attempted infidelities. Hoping to confront him, she sleeps in the maid's room that night. To her surprise, Mohei, who has escaped, sneaks into the room, in an attempt as saying goodbye to the maid before fleeing. Osan attempts to persuade Mohei into staying, but the two are interrupted when the shop clerk enters the room, and immediately assumes the two to be having an affair.
Mohei is chased away, and Ishun - after being alerted to the incident - concludes that his wife is having an affair. Angered and insulted, Osan leaves the house, only to again encounter Mohei. They later discover that Ishun has alerted the police, and Mohei is now wanted for forgery and adultery (a capital offense). Rather than face such unjust accusations the two decide to commit suicide together. They change their minds, however, when Mohei confesses his love for Osan.
They continue to flee on foot, their now mutual love growing, while Ishun's men and the police continue to pursue them. They reach the home of Mohei's father where he reluctantly gives them food and shelter. By this time a traveling chestnut salesman has inadvertently notified Ishun's house of the whereabouts of the two lovers. Ishun's men arrive at Mohei's father's where the two are captured. Mohei is bound and left for the police to find the next day while Osan is taken to her family home en route to Ishun.