Review of A Story from Chikamatsu

After Mohei (Kazuo Hasegawa), an apprentice to a master scroll maker (Eitaro Shindo), commits forgery to help the family of Osan (Kyoko Kagawa), his greedy and heartless boss's beautiful young wife, hypocrisy, coincidence and cruelty brand the young couple as adulterers, a crime punished by public disgrace (both to the accused and to their families) and ultimately death by crucifixion. Kenji Mizoguchi's sad tale, which is based on an Shotoku-era play by Monzaemon Chikamatsu (hence the title, the film is also known as 'The Crucified Lovers'), is slow moving but beautifully filmed and poignant without drifting into the maudlin. Watched as a Criterion DVD with English subtitles.