dir. Tomu Uchida
writ. Masashige Narusawa, Monzaemon Chikamatsu (play)
feat. Kinnosuke Nakamura, Ineko Arima
Another stellar BAM program as they bring the first New York retrospective of Tomu Uchida (whose name translates to "spit out dreams"). This beautiful studio picture tells the tale of a shy young man who is dragged to a brothel against his wishes. There he falls for a prostitute, refusing to touch her though quickly promising to buy her freedom. Of course, it is set up that she is there out of debt and really a hooker with a heart of gold. Sadly, our hero is poor though he works around a lot of money, part of a courier service. It is quickly established that one who breaks the seal that holds a bundle of money together may be executed, and the stage is set for our poor boy to find a tragic fate.
The film kicks off with a (bunraku) puppet show attended by our characters, including Chikamatsu (the writer of the show being staged and the film's story). As the show concludes, Chikamatsu finds a sponsor for his next story. He winds up overhearing the story of our hero as he labors to save his lady, and writes it as we watch it play out.
The story spends far too much time establishing the money woes of our hero before finally getting on with his tragic act of theft. But as it moves toward its climax, Chikamatsu inserts himself more forcefully, attempting to write a happier ending for the lovers. A gorgeous Kabuki scene of the dancing lovers depicts one such fantastic turn, while another, final puppet show gives our man the chance to make it home to his forgiving father. The detail in the puppet design and handling imbue this final scene with more emotion and nuance than the actors manage to display, making for a gorgeous finale.
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