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Japanese Film Festival: The Story of the Last Chrysanthemums (残菊物語)
Sun
2
Sun 2 Nov 11:00 AM
Arc Cinema
Allocated Seating
143 Mins | Japanese Film Festival
November
1939 | 2K Digital restoration | JPN | D: Kenji Mizoguchi | Japanese with English subtitles
In Meiji-era Japan, where legacy matters more than talent, young kabuki actor Kikunosuke basks in empty praise—celebrated not for his acting, but for bearing his famous father’s name. It is Otoku, his infant brother’s wet nurse, who first sees the truth and dares to say it aloud. In her honesty, Kikunosuke finds a rare connection, one that costs them both dearly. Cast out for loving her, Kikunosuke leaves behind his old life to rebuild from nothing—driven by artistic growth and Otoku’s quiet devotion. Yet, in the world of melancholic fate, his star rises as hers fades.
Directed with the aching grace that defines Kenji Mizoguchi’s early artistry, The Story of the Last Chrysanthemums is a mournful portrait of devotion, class and creative ambition. Through hypnotic long takes and emotional restraint, this heartrending masterpiece reveals the invisible cost of genius—and the women left behind in its shadow.
In Meiji-era Japan, where legacy matters more than talent, young kabuki actor Kikunosuke basks in empty praise—celebrated not for his acting, but for bearing his famous father’s name. It is Otoku, his infant brother’s wet nurse, who first sees the truth and dares to say it aloud. In her honesty, Kikunosuke finds a rare connection, one that costs them both dearly. Cast out for loving her, Kikunosuke leaves behind his old life to rebuild from nothing—driven by artistic growth and Otoku’s quiet devotion. Yet, in the world of melancholic fate, his star rises as hers fades.
Directed with the aching grace that defines Kenji Mizoguchi’s early artistry, The Story of the Last Chrysanthemums is a mournful portrait of devotion, class and creative ambition. Through hypnotic long takes and emotional restraint, this heartrending masterpiece reveals the invisible cost of genius—and the women left behind in its shadow.
November
Price