is a 1951 black-and-white Japanese

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

directed by

Kenji Mizoguchi was a Japanese film director and screenwriter, who directed about one hundred films during his career between 1923 and 1956. His most acclaimed works include ''The Story of the Last Chrysanthemums'' (1939), ''The Life of Oharu'' (1952), ''Uget ...

. It is based on the 1932 novella ''The Reed Cutter'' (''Ashikari'') by

Jun'ichirō Tanizaki was a Japanese author who is considered to be one of the most prominent figures in modern Japanese literature. The tone and subject matter of his work ranges from shocking depictions of sexuality and destructive erotic obsessions to subtle por ...

Plot

In 19th century Japan, Shinnosuke is paid a visit by Shizu and her sister Oyū to see if Shizu is a fitting marriage prospect for him. Yet, Shinnosuke is more fascinated by the older Oyū. Tradition forbids that the widowed Oyū marries again, as she has to raise her son and future heir of her deceased husband's family, so Shinnosuke and Shizu marry as a means for him and Oyū being as close as possible. When Oyū learns that Shizu declined to consummate the marriage as a sign of respect for the older sister and the affection between her and Shinnosuke, Oyū scolds her. Also, rumours about the true nature of the relationship between the three have started to spread, so Oyū insists on a geographical distance. Later, Oyū's son dies, and she has to leave her husband's family, while Shizu dies shortly after giving birth to her and Shinnosuke's child. Shinnosuke, whose family has lost its fortune, leaves his child at the house of the remarried Oyū, asking her in a letter to raise it as her own.

Cast

Kinuyo Tanaka was a Japanese actress and film director. She had a career lasting over 50 years with more than 250 acting credits, but was best known for her 15 films with director Kenji Mizoguchi, such as ''The Life of Oharu'' (1952) and ''Ugetsu'' (1953). W ...

as Oyū Kayukawa * Nobuko Otowa as Shizu * Yūji Hori as Shinnosuke Seribashi * Kiyoko Hirai as Osumi * Reiko Kongo as Otsugi Kayukawa *

Eijirō Yanagi (16 September 1895 – 24 April 1984) was a Japanese actor. He appeared in more than 160 films from 1940 to 1975. Career Starting out in shingeki theater, Yanagi moved to shinpa (also rendered ''shimpa'') is a form of theater in Japan, ...

as Eitaro *

Eitarō Shindō was a Japanese film actor. He appeared in more than 300 films between 1936 and 1975. He is most closely associated with the work of Kenji Mizoguchi, with whom he made twelve films. Selected filmography * '' Sisters of the Gion'' (1936) * ''A ...

as Kusaemon * Kanae Kobayashi as nanny * Fumihiko Yokoyama as book-keeper 1 * Jun Fujikawa as book-keeper 2 * Soji Shibata as book-keeper 3 * Inosuke Kuhara as boy * Ayuko Fujishiro as waitress * Shozo Nanbu as doctor * Midori Komatsu as hostess * Sachiko Aima as flower decoration teacher * Sumao Ishihara as priest

References

External links

* * {{Kenji Mizoguchi 1951 films 1951 drama films Japanese drama films Japanese black-and-white films Films based on short fiction Films based on works by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki Films directed by Kenji Mizoguchi Daiei Film films Films with screenplays by Yoshikata Yoda Films scored by Fumio Hayasaka Films produced by Masaichi Nagata 1950s Japanese films