Back on the Big Screen: Kenji Mizoguchi’s Masterpieces

Description

Best remembered for his spectacular long shots and his dedication to depicting the suffering and sacrifice of Japanese women, Kenji Mizoguchi is hailed as one of the three masters of Japanese cinema. His impressive oeuvre spans over 30 years and close to 100 films.

Curated by the Hong Kong Arts Centre, this retrospective screens four works that represent Mizoguchi’s striving for artistic perfection and humanism, as well as the recurring theme of prostitution: The Story of the Last Chrysanthemums (1939), which is one of his early masterpieces; The Woman in the Rumor (1954), a drama rarely seen on the big screen, as well as two of his best known works, Ugetsu (1953) and Street of Shame (1956).

In addition, the 1975 documentary Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director, which is directed by Mizoguchi’s protégé Kaneto Shindo, will be screened to give audiences further insight into Mizoguchi’s fascinating personal life and enduring films.