Naniwa no koi no monogatari , Chikamatsu's Love in Osaka AKA Their Own World. (1959). Directed by Tomu Uchida
Chikamatsu Monzaemon (1653 –1725) among the greatest of Japanese dramatists. His most famous plays deal with the tragedy of honour bound passionate lovers. This excellent inventive film is based on a play, written in 1711, "The Courier for Hell" which tells a tale of actual events that took place in Osaka in 1710.
Chubei is a naïve young man, the adopted son of a respected Osakan courier. Reluctantly he is lead astray one evening into the red light district by Hachi, a business associate. After much protest Chubei spends the night and fatefully falls in love with a beautiful and kindly prostitute Umegawa. Their love and affection is mutually shared, but when a rich merchant wants to buy out Umegawa's contract and marry her, Chubei becomes desperate resorting to uncharacteristic measures to thwart the merchants plans ...
In an inspired creative touch director Uchida places Chikamatsu as a character in the midst of the evolving romantic drama, he is played brilliantly by Chiezô Kataoka. Chikamatsu has a continuous presence in the background, eavesdropping on conversations with pen in hand, his ears and eyes are wide open. The inspiration for his new play begins when, he overhears Hachi and Chubei planning to go to the pleasure quarters... Stylish cinematography highlights the sumptuous period detail, interwoven throughout traditional theatrical elements which provide a rich cultural context. Outstanding performances are a feature, an engrossing drama of exceptional quality. Highly Recommended.
