Rent The Crucified Lovers (1954)

Quiet Beauty - The Crucified Lovers review by griggs

The Crucified Lovers is a beautifully made and deeply moving film that gives a stark view of life in Shogunate Japan, far from the usual tales of heroic samurais. Mizoguchi’s direction is brilliant, showing both the quiet beauty of the setting and the harsh reality of the characters’ lives. It’s a poignant story of love, duty, and sacrifice. While comparing it to Romeo and Juliet might be too simple, it shares the same tragic theme of love destroyed by duty and fate. With Martin Scorsese’s help, the film’s stunning visuals have been beautifully restored. Its exploration of love, morality, and sacrifice is powerful and leaves a deep impression. While it’s heavy and unrelenting at times, it’s a remarkable film that shows the strength of the human spirit in the face of hardship.

Japanese Tragedy (spoiler). - The Crucified Lovers review by Steve

One of the best historical romantic melodramas ever made. It’s adapted from an 18th century play (by Monzaemon Chikamatsu) set in feudal Japan about a careless, dishonourable merchant in calendars (Eitarô Shindô) who falsely charges his principal designer (Kazoo Hasegawa) of an affair with his wife (Kyôko Kagawa).

And this is a time when adultery is punished by death. Against a background of self-seeking courtly intrigue, the two accused innocents flee Kyoto into the mountains to rely on the kindness of strangers. While the arrogant husband schemes to save face by bringing her back alone.

But ironically, the fugitives fall deeply in love, with a bravery and decency which gives their life (brief) meaning and joy. A passion for the ages, which will never be forgotten. If the feckless husband hadn’t been bereft of wisdom… the lovers would never have found each other. And willingly died together.

Hasegawa and Kagawa are heartbreaking in the title roles. This is Kenji Mizoguchi’s masterpiece, and as always, it is visually exquisite. It’s a haunting, poetic romance which fulfils the thematic diktats of the post-WWII US occupation- particularly regarding the traditional status of women- yet feels entirely authentic.