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The Lady from Musashino (1951)

Director: Kenji Mizoguchi

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From Time Out Film Guide

Mizoguchi's response to the moral climate of post-WWII Japan finds him torn between modern liberalism and conservative tradition. Aristocratic Tanaka cleaves to the ancestral mansion on the outskirts of ever-expanding Tokyo, her loveless marriage to free-thinking translator Mori threatening to end her distinguished family line. When her handsome young cousin Katayama arrives back from the war, however, she's almost tempted into an affair, but consummating their relationship goes against her old-fashioned standards of behaviour. Mizoguchi builds characteristic sympathy for a woman hemmed in by her own code of honour. Yet, while there's a certain disdain for the adulterous intelligentsia around her, it's tempered by the admission that the progress of new freedom is inevitable. Although such contradiction perhaps renders this a minor entry in the director's canon, it's fascinating none the less, and determined Tanaka is as marvellous as ever.

Author: TJ 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide

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Technoguy said...

Posted on May 29 2008 19:48 A moving post-war Japanese film posing the dilemma of changing times through the breakdown of a family and a time of changes in moral values and freedom of the individual.The director shows great sympathy for his unhappy heroine trapped in a loveless marriage to her translator husband.There is the contrast between an older post war generation who pass away,cleaving to older stoic values of inheritance,decency and loyalty to one's family:symbolized by the beautiful watered pastures of the countryside(Musashino) and the brasher,
jazzier,amoral city(Tokyo).Michiko's husband is having an affair with the flirtatious Tomiko,her neighbour.Michiko confides in her younger cousin ,Tsutomo,who loves her and who she loves,but her moral code forbids her from consummating their love.Her husband leaves her for Tomiko,(who is also drawn to Tsutomo),they argue and part andTomiko goes after Tsumoto.Michiko decides she must commit suicide to preserve her honour and cousin's integity.The
central performance by Tanaka is outstanding.
and they go off together.

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