Portrait of Chieko

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Portrait of Chieko
Directed by Noboru Nakamura
Screenplay by
  • Noboru Nakamura
  • Joe Hirose
Based on
Produced byMasao Shirai
Starring
CinematographyHiroshi Takemura
Edited byKeiichi Uraoka
Music by Masaru Satō
Production
company
Distributed byShochiku
Release date
  • 5 June 1967 (1967-06-05)(Japan)
[1] [2]
Running time
125 minutes
CountryJapan
LanguageJapanese

Portrait of Chieko (智恵子抄, Chieko-shō) is a 1967 Japanese drama film directed by Noboru Nakamura. [3] It is based both on the 1941 poetry collection Chieko-shō by Japanese poet and sculptor Kōtarō Takamura, dedicated to his wife Chieko (1886–1938), and on the 1957 novel Shōsetsu Chieko-shō by Haruo Satō. [1] [2] The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. [4]

Contents

Plot

In 1909, during the war, Kotaro Takamura joins the "Bread Club" and lives extravagantly. Through mutual friends, the Tsubaki couple, he meets Chieko Naganuma, an art student, and they quickly become close. After a year, they marry. Kotaro focuses on poetry while Chieko pursues oil painting. In 1915, Chieko's painting is rejected from the Bunte Exhibition, leading to disappointment. They visit Chieko's hometown, Nihonmatsu, where her parents welcome them warmly. After a fire takes Chieko's father's life, she abandons painting for weaving. In 1931, her niece Fumiko moves in after becoming a nurse. When Chieko's family goes bankrupt, she hides it from Kotaro, suffering alone until attempting suicide. Saved by Fumiko, she endures mental illness, only recognizing Kotaro. Despite treatment in Nihonmatsu and Kujukuri-hama, her condition worsens. Admitted to a psychiatric clinic in Shinagawa in 1938, she creates impressive artwork. She dies from pneumonia in 1938, holding Kotaro's hand.

Cast

Reception

In a contemporary review, "Whit." of Variety described Portrait of Chieko as an "Exquisitely beautiful Japanese film", noting that Shima Iwashita "delivers a finely restrained performance of Oscar proportions, catching every nuance of character with consummate acting skill". The review went on to praise the cinematography by Hiroshi Takemura, Tatsuo Homada's art direction and Masaru Satō's score. [5]

Other adaptations

Takamura's poems had already been adapted for film in 1957. The film, also titled Chieko-shō, had been directed by Hisatora Kumagai and starred Sō Yamamura and Setsuko Hara. [6] [7]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "智恵子抄 1967". Kinema Junpo (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  2. 1 2 "智恵子抄". Japanese Movie Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  3. ↑ "智恵子抄" (in Japanese). kotobank. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  4. ↑ "The 40th Academy Awards (1968) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  5. ↑ Variety's Film Reviews 1968-1970. Vol. 12. R. R. Bowker. 1983. There are no page numbers in this book. This entry is found under the header "March 20, 1968". ISBN   0-8352-2792-8.
  6. ↑ "智恵子抄 1957". Kinema Junpo (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  7. ↑ "智恵子抄". Japanese Movie Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 August 2021.


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