I rate flat or down many other films i do not understand because they feel hollow or pretentious or have no. In this film, she is a delicate, idealistic woman who actually vocalizes her emotions. Tokubei, who works for his uncle in a shop, and ohatsu, a prostitute, are starcrossed lovers, who dream of one day paying off their obligations and marry. Double suicide adopts the conventions and style of these almost lifesize wooden puppets, with their visible, blackclad, hooded puppeteers, into the form of the film.
Directed by masahiro shinoda writing credits masahiro shinoda, toru takemitsu, taeko tomioka, monzaemon chikamatsu produced by masahiro shinoda, masayuki nakajima music by toru takemitsu cinematography by toichiro narushima film editing by masahiro shinoda production design by. Ohatsu takes off her obi and uses it to tie them together. A distinctive feature of japanese society is its apparent. A token of our closelinked fates, that loves and stars should be as one. Complete summary of sugimori nobumoris the love suicides at sonezaki. Kaji meiko, uzaki ryudo, igawa hisashi based on the play by chikamatsu. A thug is released after fifteen years in prison for the murder of a yakuza gang boss.
Double suicide is a film which i do not completely understand but nonetheless rate up. His domestic tragedy, the love suicides at amijima, is described in detail, and the writer explains the social and family obligations in which the protagonists are trapped and which ultimately lead to the double suicide at the end. This may have been because prostitutes in nagasaki were less stigmatized, and were more able to reenter ordinary society once their contracts were up, and to marry. Koharu, parting from her friend, deftly threaded the throng and hastened into the kawachiya. Sonezaki shinju love suicides at sonezaki and tsuri onna fishing for a wife. In this striking adaptation of a bunraku puppet play featuring the music of famed composer toru takemitsu, a paper merchant sacrifices family. The love suicides at sonezaki is a 1978 japanese historical romance film directed by yasuzo masumura starring ryudo uzaki and meiko kaji based on the chikamatsu play of the same name. Historian amy stanley notes only two cases mentioned in the citys criminal record stanley, 89. The play was inspired by a double suicide that occurred at the sonezaki shrine in 1703.
There are many changes taking place and new directions being developed all the time in suicidology. Kaji meiko received the kinema jumpo award the japanese oscar as best actress for her 1978 performance in sonezaki shinju, or double suicide at sonezaki, opposite ryudo uzaki at the time best known as a rock performer but who truly rises to the occasion of a fine film. Based on the play by chikamatsu monzaemon, double suicide in sonezaki is the classic tale of the japanese romeo and juilette. While not his first one which was probably the puppet play the soga successors in 1683 nor his most popular which would be the battles of coxinga, it is probably the most popular of his domestic tragedies or domestic plays as donald keene characterizes the non. Sonezaki shinju the love suicides at sonezaki movie. This film won the prestigious kinema jumpo number one prize for both best picture and best actresses. Read double suicide article by kimata kimihiko pdf part of the globus film series.
The haste of composition is not at all apparent even in this first example of chikamatsus double suicide plays, the archetype of his other. Love suicides were seemingly quite rare among the courtesans of nagasaki, however. Sonezaki shinju 1h 52min crime, drama, romance 24 august 1979 usa a poor merchant and a prostitue plan to suicide together after being pressured and betrayed by their surroundings. This is art house stuff try it, i will warn you it takes a little to get used to but when you do your hooked to these movies. In this striking adaptation of a bunraku puppet play featuring the music of famed composer toru takemitsu, a paper merchant sacrifices family, fortune, and ultimately life for his erotic obsession with a prostitute. The love suicides at sonezaki with english captions. Stemming from a japanese puppet play from the 1700s, double suicide stands tall and beautiful as a new wave love story similar to that of romeo and juliet on the surface. Masahiro shinoda takes some risky strides in his directing by utilizing a series of dark.
An adaptation of a popular bunraku traditional puppet theater play from the 1700s, double suicide represents a collision of classical style and modern, transgressive sensibilities. Project muse sonezaki shinju love suicides at sonezaki. Sad indeed that this year is thus for both illstarredtwentyfive for you, for me nineteen. In the film script you wont find the following line in the film, a nishijinori sash can fetch up to 10. Double suicide of sonezaki 1978 ending song youtube. The love suicides at sonezaki, sonezaki shinju, also released as double suicide of sonezaki is a 1978 japanese historical romance film directed by yasuzo masumura starring ryudo uzaki and meiko kaji based on the chikamatsu play of the same name. The japan foundation sugimoto bunraku sonezaki shinju. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Double suicide at nishijin 1977 trailer from art theatre guild. Chikamatsu, sonezaki shinjii love suicides at sonezaki.
Double suicide and the fetishism of space senses of cinema. Later, jihei and koharutogether at laststeal into the night, cut their hair absolving them from societal obligations and make love all night in a graveyard before they commit double suicide. The various changes and why they are happening are discussed. Ten no amijima double suicide 1969 rotten tomatoes. Stunningly shot in lustrous widescreen black and white, oshimas blistering attack on japanese society throws together a wild child nymphomaniac, a deathobsessed man, and a band of gangsters plotting to overthrow the government, confining them to a claustrophobic bunker and chronicling the fallout as pentup aggression and sexual tension threaten to combust. The love suicides at sonezaki, for example, was written within a fortnight of the actual double suicide on which it is based. Worldwide english title, double suicide of sonezaki.
Kaji really does have range as an actress, and fans of hers should see double suicide of sonezaki. Climax the journey from dojima to the sonezaki shrine. Just keeping track of all the japanese films ive watched. Suicide completion by spouses, other types of couples, or by two friends.
Lists that include double suicide of sonezaki letterboxd. Nishijin is a district in kyoto famous for nishijinori, an ultraexpensive fabric produced with traditional means. Jihei, a merchant of paper products, has neglected his. This was kajis absolute favorite of all the films she ever appeared in, but as an independent production funded with grants. Sonezaki shinju the love suicides at sonezaki quotes no quotes approved yet for sonezaki shinju the love suicides at sonezaki. Many films have drawn from classic japanese theatrical forms, but none with such shocking cinematic effect as director masahiro shinodas double suicide. This performance of two kabuki plays, billed as shochiku grand kabuki, was more than entertainingit was an event of crosscultural importance. The double suicide itself takes an agonizingly long time as tokubei at.
A sexobsessed young woman, a suicidal man she meets on the street, a guncrazy wannabe gangsterthese are just three of the irrational, oddball anarchists trapped in an underground hideaway in oshimas devilish, absurdist portrait of what he deemed the death drive in japanese youth culture. The love suicides at sonezaki over a onemonth period from september to october, 20. Double suicide is the final film he made in the sixties, and it cant help but feel like a culmination, the most ambitious and fullyrealized movie of his decade. The haste of composition is not at all apparent even in this first example of chikamatsus doublesuicide plays, the archetype of his other. While the acting can be a bit melodramatic at times, double suicide is worth the watch for the brilliant direction and creative use of space and composition. The love suicides at sonezaki, which determined chikamatsus future career, was his first attempt to use themes from daily life. Sonezaki shinju the love suicides at sonezaki sugimoto bunraku. The japan foundation and the odawara art foundation proudly present the european tour of the ningyo joruri bunraku japanese puppet theatre performance sugimoto bunraku sonezaki shinju. Although after 1693 he devoted most of his energies to kabuki, in 1703 he reconnected with gidayua famous joruri popular narrative chanting chanter who founded his own puppet theatre in osakaand wrote exclusively for gidayus puppet theatre during the last two decades of his life. It was first staged in 1703, based on a real, recent event, and instantly became a big hit. Bunraku theatre features the uncanny doubling of the figures of the puppets with those of the puppeteers the kurogo. Four major plays of chikamatsu by chikamatsu monzaemon. He falls in love with indentured prostitute ohatsu.
Based on the play by chikamatsu monzaemon, double suicide in sonezaki is the classic tale of the japanese romeo and juliette. It remains one of the most popular plays in bunraku. The love suicides at sonezaki, sonezaki shinju is a lovesuicide bunraku play by chikamatsu monzaemon. Owing to the traditional kabuki theatre, double suicide is a movie that is based on and drawing its visual style from a 200plus year old play about a married merchant and a courtesan who love in vain and feel double suicide is the only way they can be together. The love suicides at sonezaki, sonezaki shinju is a love suicide bunraku play by chikamatsu monzaemon. Chikamatsus double suicide drama as millenarian discourse jstor. The love suicides at sonezaki sonezaki shinju is the most famous and bestloved play by chikamatsu. Double suicide definition of double suicide by medical.