Chikamatsu Monogatari

"The tortured heart behind the cultivated image."

1954 1h 42m JA

🙌

7.8

BANGER

★7.8TMDB · 158

DramaRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

When the wife of a 17th-century Kyoto scrollmaker is falsely accused of having an affair with his best employee, the pair flee the city and find themselves truly falling for one another.

“The tortured heart behind the cultivated image.”

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Where to watch · US

Criterion ChannelSubscription

Cast

Kazuo Hasegawa
Mohei
Kyōko Kagawa
Osan
Eitarō Shindō
Ishun
Eitarō Ozawa
Sukeemon
Yōko Minamida
Otama
Haruo Tanaka
Gifuya Dôki
Chieko Naniwa
Okô
Ichirō Sugai
Gembei

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Writers: Yoshikata Yoda, Matsutarō Kawaguchi
Languages: Japanese
Countries: Japan

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

72 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Kenji Mizoguchi, shot by Kazuo Miyagawa. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Fumio Hayasaka. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Kanji Suganuma shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Kazuo Hasegawa and Kyōko Kagawa and Eitarō Shindō carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "The tortured heart behind the cultivated image.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0046851 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Kenji Mizoguchi directs. Kazuo Miyagawa behind the camera. Fumio Hayasaka scores. Kanji Suganuma cuts. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

172 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Directed by Kenji Mizoguchi, shot by Kazuo Miyagawa. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Fumio Hayasaka. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Kanji Suganuma shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Kazuo Hasegawa and Kyōko Kagawa and Eitarō Shindō carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "The tortured heart behind the cultivated image.".
7IMDB entry: tt0046851 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Classified under 12 themes, including "japan", "escape", "suicide attempt", "lover".
9Released under 10 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Kazuo Miyagawa
Original score: Fumio Hayasaka
Editing: Kanji Suganuma
Costume design: Natsu Itô
Makeup / hair: Ritsu Hanai
Runtime: 102 min · 1h 42m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: JA
IMDB: Chikamatsu Monogatari (1954)

Also by

Kenji Mizoguchi

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Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Production companies

Who made it

Daiei Film
JP

Key crew

ProducerMasaichi Nagata
GafferKen'ichi Okamoto
Camera OperatorShozo Tanaka
Art DirectionHiroshi Mizutani
Assistant Art DirectorAkira Naitō
HairstylistRitsu Hanai
Costume DesignNatsu Itô
Makeup ArtistMasanori Kobayashi
Set DecorationYaichi Ebise
Assistant DirectorTokuzō Tanaka
Executive In Charge Of ProductionMasatsugu Hashimoto
Set DesignerUichirô Yamamoto
Sound RecordistShôsaburô Suzuki
Lighting TechnicianTakabuki Yoshiya
EditorKanji Suganuma
Production ManagerHiroshi Ozawa
SoundIwao Ōtani
Background DesignerTasaburô Oota
Theatre PlayMonzaemon Chikamatsu
Production CoordinatorHisakazu Tsuji

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

japan
escape
suicide attempt
lover
love
extramarital affair
bankruptcy
kyoto, japan
locked in
jidaigeki
social class
17th century

Release history · US

When it landed

Premiere2014-06-15· Harvard Film Archive

Also known as

International titles

Amantes crucificadosAR
De gekruisigde geliefdenBE
Oi stavromenoi erastesGR
Die Legende vom Meister der RollbilderDE
A Story from ChikamatsuUS
Повесть ТикамацуSU
Chikamatsu monogatari: Les amants crucifiés - Une histoire de ChikamatsuCH
Chikamatsu monogatari: Eine Erzählung von Chikamatsu - Die Legende vom Meister der RollbilderCH
The Crucified LoversUS
Pako rakkauteenFI