Chikamatsu monogatari (1954)

 

 

Ishun is a wealthy, but unsympathetic, master printer who has wrongly accused his wife and best employee of being lovers. To escape punishment, the accused run away together, but Ishun is certain to be ruined if word gets out.

Kenji Mizoguchi stages this harrowing and heart-wrenching tragedy with a superb cast and beautiful black-and-white cinematography.

Maltin***1/2: "Superior performances, stunning direction..."