Part of the TANAKA Kinuyo Retrospective
CAMERA JAPAN is pleased to present four newly restored features by TANAKA Kinuyo, a leading actress who turned to directing in 1953, becoming Japan’s second female filmmaker and the only woman making films during the Golden Age of Japanese cinema in the late 1950s.
Ryuko is married to the younger brother of the Emperor of Manchukuo. Their surprisingly intense love is put to the test when Japan loses World War II and they are separated while fleeing China. A visually stunning masterpiece about the harshness and depth of love. Made by an all-female creative team of author AISHINKAKURA Hiro, screenwriter WADA Natto and director TANAKA Kinuyo.
Ryuko wordt uitgehuwelijkt aan de jongere broer van de keizer van Manchukuo. Hun verrassend intense liefde wordt extreem getest wanneer Japan de Tweede Wereldoorlog verliest. Het keizerlijke hof moet China ontvluchten en de geliefden raken van elkaar gescheiden. Een visueel ontzagwekkend meesterwerk, over hoe pijnlijk én hoe diep liefde kan zijn, gemaakt door een team van vrouwelijke artiesten: auteur AISHINKAKURA Hiro, scriptschrijver WADA Natto en regisseur TANAKA Kinuyo.
TANAKA Kinuyo 田中 絹代 started her career as an actress in OZU Yasujirō’s early silent films. After World War II she became MIZOGUCHI Kenji’s muse, starring in all his most famous films including the titular character in The Life of Oharu. She also starred in films by KUROSAWA Akira, NARUSE Mikio and KINOSHITA Keisuke. Despite Mizoguchi’s objections, she also turned to directing in 1953 , becoming the second ever woman in Japan to do so. In less than ten years, she directed a total of six films. Her debut feature, Love Letter, was scripted by Kinoshita and selected for the 1954 Cannes Film Festival. Her second film, The Moon Has Risen, is based on a script by Ozu. She did not get much recognition for her directorial efforts in the 1950s, and even downplayed their significance herself at the time. Recently she has, however, become recognised as a major filmmaker and pioneer. Her films have also been recognised for their unique portrayals of Japanese women.
1962 – Love Under the Crucifix お吟さま
1961 – Girls of the Night 女ばかりの夜
1960 – The Wandering Princess 流転の王妃
1955 – The Eternal Breasts 乳房よ永遠なれ
1955 -: The Moon has Risen 月は上りぬ
1953 – Love Letter 恋文