The Story of the Late Chrysanthemums

The Story of the Late Chrysanthemums (1939)

Submitted by JuanLars

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AKA: Zangiku monogatari

Summary: In Tokyo in 1885, Kikunosuke Onoue, the adoptive son of an important actor, discovers that he is praised for his acting only because he is his father's heir, and that the troupe complains how bad he is behind his back. The only person to talk to him honestly about his acting is Otoku, the wet-nurse of his adoptive father's child. She is fired by the family, and Kikunosuke is forbidden to see her, because of the gossip a relationship with a servant would cause. Kikunosuke falls in love with Otoku, and leaves home to try to make a living on his own merits outside Tokyo. (imdb)

Genre: Drama

Country: Japan

Directed By: Kenji Mizoguchi

Written By: Matsutarô Kawaguchi, Shôfû Muramatsu

Starring: Shôtarô Hanayagi, Kôkichi Takada, Gonjurô Kawarazaki, Kakuko Mori, Tokusaburo Arashi, Yôko Umemura

More information at the Internet Movie Database

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The Story of the Late Chrysanthemums belongs to 10 collections

1. 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (public: moderated by curseof26 - 44 stars)

2. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2008 revision) (public: moderated by Scottathon - 29 stars)

3. Jonathan Rosenbaum's Top 1000 Movies (public: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 15 stars)

4. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2010 revision) (public: moderated by MMAlpha - 10 stars)

5. International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers (public: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 5 stars)

6. Sight and Sound 2002 (public: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 3 stars)

7. Cinemag's Best 200 films Ever Created! (public: moderated by hristos - 1 star)

8. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2007 revision) (public: moderated by Scottathon - 1 star)

9. The Auteurs World Cup (public: moderated by mandarkzilla - 1 star)

10. To See (private: caffe - 2 stars)

Browse the full list of collections

What other users thought -- ordered by your TCI

Show just those with reviews | Show just my kumpels

TCI	User	Score	Tier
na	omglol	90	T₁₀
na	theyshoot08	89	T₈
228
na	dj001k	90	T₁₀
na	imdb	77	T₉
na	vanderdoido	85	T₇
na	Mango	3	T₃
na	cinebaixar	85	T₈
na	abowloffire	80	T₇
na	Simon M.	48	T₂
na	Mike DAngelo	78	T₁₀
na	goran	68	T₇
na	Illandir	75	T₆
na	FitFortDanga	86	T₉
I have to admit I'm a bit underwhelmed. I didn't like it as much as Mizoguchi's later work. But don't get me wrong, it's an excellent movie. The craftsmanship is wonderful, some very dramatic angles and expressive camera language (although there were a few rather dull shots too). And the acting, costumes, music is superb. The story touches on themes of loyalty and integrity in ways that are poignant. The ending is quite moving, however you can really see it coming a mile away.
na	Dally	95	T₁₀
na	experimental	82	T₁₀
na	Llopin	95	T₁₀
na	onetwothree	80	T₁₀
na	paris1919	75	T₆
na	boxgod	70	T₇
na	theyshoot07	89	T₉
# 212
na	negative	4	T₁₀
na	rudolf55	95	T₁₀
na	jeff_v	89	T₁₀
na	Antoine	80	T₇
na	welike	40	T₉
na	flowing	98	T₁₀
na	cambelboy	98	T₁₀
na	Mingus	3	T₉
na	JuanLars	100	T₁₀
na	burhenn	90	T₇
na	kastenm	65	T₂
na	theyshoot10	87	T₈
254
na	a_doomoot3	92	T₆
na	winds	8	T₁₀
na	bigolbilly	84	T₅
na	Prayermad	80	T₇
na	Darbicus	95	T₁₀
na	sidehacker	74	T₇
na	kenji	95	T₆
na	PeaceAnarchy	84	T₈
Like the other Mizoguchi film's I've seen, it's a tragic tale of the burdens placed on people, especially women, by rigid class structures and other social restrictions. It's very well done and while the arc is pretty predictable it still manages to make it feel fresh. I wish I could love it as much as I admire it, liking it a lot will have to do.
na	PimpPanda	97	T₉
na	JJJames	94	T₁₀
na	volver	85	T₁₀
na	kyle.loomis	80	T₈
na	coltrane	7	T₁₀
na	Theyshootpic	81	T₉
na	Veterini	80	T₇
na	philocrates	0	T₁
na	demonhatesme	96	T₁₀
na	RNG	57	T₆
na	Raiders	94	T₁₀
na	filmaffinity	83	T₁₀
na	purity	3	T₉
na	Jazzaloha	75	T₉
na	SuperFlosser	100	T₁₀
na	Magb	85	T₈
This film takes place in the realm of the kabuki theatre. At first the male main character is a nice guy but a lousy actor, and he knows it. But when he goes on the road with his star-crossed lover he becomes more of a prick and starts feeding off the woman's misery, and through this he ends up being a better actor. Through this Mizoguchi makes a statement about both oppression of women (his favorite theme) and about the nature of art.
na	JR1000	39	T₈
na	Squalido	98	T₉
na	hip_priest	100	T₁₀
na	ozufan	96	T₁₀
na	coreyj	15	T₄