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A film cycle dedicated to one of the most important – and for decades least recognised – figures of 20th-century Japanese cinema is about to arrive. Running from February 17 to 22 at Auditório Carlos Avilez, as part of the cultural programme of the Fundação Dom Luís I, the initiative presents six films directed by the artist, always at 9pm.
Internationally recognised as one of the greatest actresses of Japan’s classical era, Tanaka worked with some of the country’s most important filmmakers, but she was also a pioneer behind the camera. In a deeply male-dominated industry, she became only the second woman to direct feature films in Japan and the first to develop a consistent directing career in the 1950s. Her filmography stands out for its attentive approach to women’s experiences in post-war Japan, exploring themes such as motherhood, sexuality, social marginalisation and the clash between tradition and modernity.
The cycle, programmed by Japanese cinema researcher and promoter Miguel Patrício, opens on February 17 with Love Letter (1953), Tanaka’s directorial debut. The film follows a war veteran who translates romantic letters written by Japanese prostitutes to American soldiers.
On February 18 comes The Moon Has Risen (1955), a story centred on three sisters living in Nara as they face different social expectations regarding marriage and female independence. The screenplay was written by one of Japanese cinema’s greatest figures, Yasujirô Ozu, in collaboration with Ryôsuke Saitô.
On February 19, Forever a Woman (1955) will be screened, a drama following a poet confronted with an unhappy marriage and a breast cancer diagnosis. It is considered one of the director’s most powerful works.
The programme continues on February 20 with The Wandering Princess (1960), Tanaka’s first colour film and shot in Cinemascope, based on the memoirs of a Japanese aristocrat forced to marry a member of Manchurian royalty.
On February 21, Girls of the Night (1961) will be shown, following a young former prostitute in a rehabilitation centre after the legal prohibition of the activity in Japan.
The cycle concludes on February 22 with Love Under the Crucifix (1962), the final film directed by Tanaka, a historical drama set in the late 16th century that follows the forbidden passion between an aristocratic woman and a Christian samurai.
Academia de Artes do Estoril – Auditório Carlos Avilez, Rua do Viveiro (Monte do Estoril), Estoril. 17–22 Feb (Tue–Sun), 9pm. Free entry.