Yoshiwara (1937)
Directed by Max Ophüls
Genres - Drama |
Sub-Genres - Melodrama, Romantic Drama |
Run Time - 95 min. |
Countries - France |
MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson
This bit of elegant esoterica was Max Ophuls' only directorial effort for 1937. Japanese matinee idol Sessue Hayakawa made a long-overdue return to films as Yaamo, a humble Chinese coolie in love with the beautiful and aristocratic Kohana (Michiko Tanaka). Following her father's suicide, Kohana is reduced to working as a Geisha girl, and it is in this capacity that she meets Russian naval officer Serge Polinoff (Pierre-Richard Willm), who marries the girl and takes her back to his homeland. Now regarding Kohana as a traitor, Yaamo swears vengeance on both the girl and her Russian husband. At film's end, only Kohana is left alive, which in context is surprising indeed. The Japanese government issued a formal complaint about the content of Yoshiwara, but French moviegoers were not yet conditioned to take such things seriously, and the film was a hit.
Characteristics
Themes
Keywords
aristocracy, commoner, geisha, love-triangle, marriage, murder, officer, revenge, suicide, traitor, unrequited