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Poster for Chikamatsu Monogatari

Chikamatsu Monogatari

Seen it?

1954 | 102 min | Drama, Romance

Sunday Safe Betearly rating

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

Critics loved it (100% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had almost no lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for romantics. If you loved Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans or Girl with a Pearl Earring, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Warm and romantic.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 42 min.
What might put you off
  • It's in Japanese, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Made in 1954: an older pace and style.
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

When the wife of a 17th-century Kyoto scrollmaker is falsely accused of having an affair with his best employee, the pair flee the city and find themselves truly falling for one another.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    100% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.8 out of 10

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Reach & staying powerSolid

    Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactWeak

    About 8K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Kenji Mizoguchi

  • Kazuo HasegawaMohei
  • Kyōko KagawaOsan
  • Eitarō ShindōIshun
  • Eitarō OzawaSukeemon
  • Yōko MinamidaOtama
  • Haruo TanakaGifuya Dôki
  • Chieko NaniwaOkô
  • Ichirō SugaiGembei
  • Tatsuya IshiguroIsan
  • Hiroshi MizunoKuroki