Ogin-sama

In Japan at the end of the 16th Century, the Shogunate has outlawed Christianity, seized the property of the Christian lords and begun to destroy anyone who professes the Christian faith. One such lord is Tatsuya Nakadai, who is dispossessed and exiled. He is loved by Ineko Arima, the daughter of tea ceremony master Ganjirô Nakamura. Their love has disastrous consequences.

Kinuyo Tanaka's last movie as director is a story of the tyranny and oppression of a ceremony-ridden state, where the ceremonies have lost any connection with their origins. The shogun chancellor's tea ceremony is conducted in a golden palace, bereft of the simplicity and naturalism the tea masters claim is the basis of their practice; the image of Christ is indistinguishable from that of Buddha. Miss Arima's family make speak of love and happiness, but their miens show no emotion.

I found this movie quite lovely, but bereft of any sense beyond exemplifying the insanity of the situation. That may be the point and purpose of this movie, but like many poorer examples of Japanese cinema, it seems as if the story is driving the characters, with those characters little more than marionettes moving in whatever fashion the puppeteers command. This may be the essential tragedy of Japan, but to my Western mind, it seems pointless.