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AI-EN-KYO
(The Valley of Love and Sorrow)
A SHINKO KINEMA PICTURE
“ The Valley of Love and Sorrow ” is the film play which Kenji Mizoguchi directed after completing “ Sisters of Gion”.
In the making of these two pictures there has been no change in Kenji Mizoguchi himself. “ Sisters of Gion " was produced by an independent company, so its director was able to give full scope to the plenitude of his powers. A great organization like the Shinko Kinema, however, does not permit this. Thus, while making a movie which would appeal to the popular taste, Mizoguchi had, at the same time, to satisfy his own artistic conscience. It is our view that the work of this director in melting, in his own crucible, the contents of what amounts to no more than a stereotyped tragedy and in any event succeeding, to a certain extent, in casting into shape an artistic presentation by dint of his own peculiar realistic technique is worthy of commendation.
The contents of “ The Valley of Love and Sorrow” bear a certain
similarity to those of Tolstoi’s Resurrection. What is here
described is the tale of a girl who, seduced by a rake, becomes
pregnant, and with his child on her hands drifts through a world
filled with hardships and trials. In the numerous scenes in which this woman is cast into the midst of a great city where she ekes out a wretched existence without any kind soul to extend a helping hand, Mizoguchi exhibits his admirable powers of realistic delineation which are no whit inferior to those he displayed in his previous pictures.
The part of the heroine is played by Fumiko Yamaji. Under Mizoguchi’s masterly direction, she gives a performance, which, for her, is quite the finest.
TADASI IIZIMA
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