Yoshiwara (film)

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Movie
Original title Yoshiwara
Country of production France
original language French
Publishing year 1937
length 88 minutes
Rod
Director Max Ophüls
script Wolfgang Wilhelm
Arnold Lippschütz
J. Dapoigny
production Hermann Millakowsky
music Paul Dessau
camera Eugen Schüfftan
René Colas
cut Pierre Méguérian
occupation

Yoshiwara is a French feature film from 1937 directed by Max Ophüls . The main roles are played by Pierre Richard-Willm , Sessue Hayakawa and Michiko Tanaka . The story is based on a novel by Maurice Dekobra .

action

Tokyo in 1860. Yoshiwara is the name of the entertainment district of the Japanese capital where the following events take place. Lieutenant Sergei Poljenow arrived here on behalf of his government in St. Petersburg. In the name of the tsar he is supposed to do espionage services. In fact, he comes into possession of secret documents, in which the Japanese opponents are also interested. In Yoshiwara the “lady of love” Kohana also does her services; she was forced by her family to work as a geisha in order to secure the paternal inheritance, which is in danger.

One day the stranger from Russia and the tender prostitute meet against their will and promptly fall in love. But this is very displeasing to the jealous and resentful coolie Isamo, and so he betrays the two to the Japanese authorities. A fatal drama quickly ensues. Sergej and Kohana try to flee, but they don't get far. The now wounded Russian lieutenant dies of exhaustion and Kohana falls into the hands of her own compatriots. The geisha is shot dead for betrayal of the fatherland.

Production notes

Yoshiwara premiered on October 22, 1937 and is considered Ophüls' greatest financial success in prewar France. In Germany, the film was only shown on television on September 23, 1990 on WDR 2 as the original with subtitles.

The film structures were designed by the two brothers André Barsacq and Léon Barsacq , the costumes by Laure Lourié. Ralph Baum served Ophüls as assistant director. Jacqueline Audry was a script girl.

The leading actress Michiko Tanaka, who played the geisha, married the German film actor Viktor de Kowa two years later .

Reactions

Official Japanese criticism of this film has been fierce, particularly due to the portrayal of cathouses and prostitution in this country. The ban beam from state authorities hit the two Japanese co-stars Hayakawa and Tanaka, who were branded as traitors to their own country.

criticism

In the lexicon of international films it says: “A melodrama in its purest form, staged with modest but effective means, which has been widely ridiculed by French critics. In the context of Ophüls' work, the film is nevertheless remarkable as an aesthetic attempt at survival by the director in exile. "

Individual evidence

  1. Cecilia Segawa Seigle. Yoshiwara: The Glittering World of the Japanese Courtesan. University of Hawaii Press, pp. 10 f., 1993.
  2. Yoshiwara. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed January 15, 2019 .Template: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used 

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