MISS OYU
Based on "A Cut In the Reeds" by TANIZAKI Jun'ichiro
Script: YODA Yoshitaka
Camera: MIYAGAWA Kazuo
Sound: OTANI Iwao
Music: HAYASAKA Fumio
Art direction: MIZUTANI Hiroshi
Light: OKAMOTO Ken'ichi
Special camera: MATSUMURA Teizo
Installation: MIYATA Mitsuzo
Director's assistant: IDA Saguri
Mrs. Oyu: TANAKA Kinuyo
Oshizu: OTOWA Nobuko
Shinnosuke: HORI Yuji
The elder brother: YANAGI Eijiro
The father-in-law: SHINDO Eitaro
The physician: NAMBU Shozo
The aunt: HIRAI Kiyoko
Otsugi: KONGO Reiko
Directed by: MIZOGUCHI Kenji
They are awfully late.
Is she really well, my aunt?
Even a decorator as refined that you will only be seduced...
he is going to be necessary to decide you after all these fruitless presentations.
I would like myself well also to be able to say yes!
- Good, I am going to make a tour. - They are going to arrive.
These young leaves explode of freshness. What beauty!
Shinnosuke, they are there.
- I know. You were right. - Did you see it?
If you had shown it to me earlier!
You see that she pleases you!
To the fact, you know which is it, no?
Yes, the one that holds a veil to the hand.
But no! That one, it is Mrs. Oyu,
who married the son Kayugawa.
She was anxious to come today
to see the one that is going to marry her junior.
Don't confuse them, it would be terrible!
You must be tired after this long journey.
But no, it is marvelous to be in Kyoto after so long.
Go Shizu, say hello.
Delighted.
Shizu, it is a beautiful meeting, don't be like this!
Your nephew seems very kind and very good.
He lost his parents at an early age.
That rather made him unsociable.
He has to meet some girls!
It is true, but always without result.
He can't manage to find the right one.
And Shizu? Does she please him?
You know, in the beginning, he took you for her.
- Me? Shizu! - Yes.
And I must say that he had the spellbound air.
Good evening Ladies!
Here you are back!
- We lingered. Apologies. - Thank you for your help.
He was so late...
that we spent the night at Yae in Kyoto.
- She sends you her greetings. - Ah good.
Then, how did it happen?
He is very good. Kind and thoughtful.
He will be surely a very good husband for Shizu.
Indeed?
I am relieved well. This is not, Shizu?
What luck to have found someone so good!
Shizu, tell therefore your big brother...
Sae, you must be very tired.
What clever way to divert the conversation!
You know Shizu... it appears that at first, he took me for you.
And he observed me therefore with a lot of interest.
Certainly!
Me I was clothed modestly to enhance you better.
So modestly that you are clothed, you always draw attention.
You joke!
OYU
Hello, Mrs.. Gentleman is at the store.
- Hello, my aunt. - Hello!
But finally, have you chosen? It is high time you decide!
If this rare pearl doesn't suit you, I'll stop caring!
You have beautiful words to say.
Do tell me therefore what displeases you?
I waited so long. I wonder if there isn't better.
The woman of your dreams doesn't exist.
So, she exists!
Of whom do you speak?
Rather speak of my business.
About the family of Mrs. Oyu, the Kayugawas, I believe,
could you recommend myself?
So that they purchase from you?
Yes. She seems to have good taste.
Is this sound personal taste? What kind of man is her husband?
He died a long time ago.
- And did she remain a widow? - Yes.
If you want to make ampler knowledge,
she gives a concert soon of music at home. You can come.
Welcome! Thank you for coming.
What pleasure to see you again!
Lady comes rightly to begin to play.
What elegance!
She even burned incense!
To the foot of the mountain
Scolds the storm
Snow of petals of cherry trees
moving Moment
Of compassion
Rain of spring
Is this of the tears?
Rain of petals
World of regrets
Hello Mrs.
Thank you for inviting us to this magnificent concert.
I am delighted you came.
Thank you for the other day.
The whole pleasure was for me. Have a seat.
You saw my act. It must have looked bizarre to you, no?
Not at all. It was delightful.
In the 10th century, it was so elegant!
This very piece is worthy of the palace.
I adore reading Le of Genji and the
Today, I gave my first concert,
but it was, in fact, a pretext, to recreate this time.
If my master heard me, he would be furious,
but the koto is only an accessory.
Tell me aunt, when mom was young, she was not like that?
My mother died when I was small.
How old were you?
Four years old.
Poor kid! So young!
I don't remember therefore her appearance,
but I know, that being from Kyoto, she served the prince in the palace.
I always imagined her as you appear today.
And I have quite been rejoiced while seeing you thus for a while.
While listening you and while seeing you,
I think that your mother had to be very pretty.
She was certainly very beautiful, but you don't have anything to envy her.
How can I thank for your kindness?
- Please. - Thank you.
Here you are therefore! I thank you for having come.
Mr. Kayugawa father, I presume?
You were very nice to Oyu and her sister
Today's recital was superb.
Please.
Well, we're going to see the dance.
Good afternoon.
Tell me, son,
isn't your mom very pretty?
Come to see me.
Good evening.
Tell me, is it impossible to marry her?
Mrs. Oyu, you mean?
The woman for which I waited, was someone like her.
You should know,
if you want her indeed, it will be necessary for you to run away you with her.
The elders of her husband's family are very old fashioned.
She cannot leave because she had a son by her dead husband
and she must dedicate herself to his education.
She is going to remain therefore widow all her life?
But she leads a life of luxury.
Luxury is not all.
Gotten married once, a woman can't leave her husband's family
without their consent.
Even if she could, you're supposed to marry Oshizu.
How could I tell them?
I must run away with her?
Wait!
Stop joking please!
Mrs. Oyu, isn't it?
What's the matter with you?
Please, excuse me.
Excuse me. Otsugi went to look for...
A heat stroke?
I know someone close to here. Come!
You, return to the store.
Hold, what a surprise!
- I need you. - Is she suffering?
- Yes. Thank you for your help. - Please.
Please, excuse us.
Then, Mrs...
Do you feel a little better?
For the heat strokes, it is necessary to undo everything that is tight.
Clear her chest.
I'm going to look for a physician.
Good idea.
Where can she have gone?
She better rest for a moment.
- Thank you doctor. - Thank you for coming.
Better health!
She didn't come back home...
it is strange.
Where can she be?
- You're concerned! - It is true.
Did I fall asleep here?
Are you awake?
I must have caused you a lot of worries.
Where did Otsugi go?
I went to look for her...
but we must have crossed paths.
They must be worried. I must hurry back.
Is that going to go?
I thank you.
When I saw you,
you appeared to me as the Buddha coming to save me from hell.
Where did you go?
Well, in fact I went for you.
To my home?
Your aunt came this morning.
I learned that you didn't want to get married.
Is it true?
Doesn't Oshizu please you?
It is not about that.
If she doesn't displease you, marry her.
I would like so much that she marries someone good.
Among my brothers and sisters, Shizu is the closest to me.
She comes to see me every day for fear that I feel alone.
If she must get married,
I prefer her to be close.
And if it is you that she marries, I believe
that you would let me see her often.
Listen, if I can please you,
I will do all that you want.
If you really believe what you say, marry her.
Do you want to marry her?
Mrs. Kayugawa is there.
Good evening. Enter.
Please.
Where were you? I was very worried.
I met this gentleman. He took care of me.
Please.
Listen to Shizu.
What a funny girl!
Go in!
I let you.
Go in and have a cup of tea.
Thank you. Next time.
I wanted, in fact, to speak you of Oshizu.
I am very embarrassed.
Why?
I had confided to you this business,
but the whole family opposes it.
Why?
He announced himself badly, he should drop it.
Nonsense!
They also say that he is an unmitigated reveler.
It is good to see the world to know it better.
But you, elder brother,, what do you think of it?
For me, he is all right but...
Everything's fine then?
I can't make this decision alone!
You are the elder brother,
the chief of the Kosobe family.
If you decide it, all is fine.
But Shizu didn't give a straight answer.
Shizu, you know
that everybody opposes this marriage?
What do you think?
He isn't certain that it's a bad thing,
if you remain silent, then it is you who are at fault.
But didn't you tell me that he pleased you?
But you, sister, what do you think of him?
He is a good man.
I think so every time I see him.
But it is not I that's getting married,
I can't impose it at all cost.
I don't think, however, that you can find a better man.
When the sisters got married, the ties were stretched little by little.
You, at least,, I would like to keep close to me.
If it was he, I would not have the impression of losing you.
It would be rather as if I had won a brother also.
Then, Shizu?
Why don't you say you want to marry him?
If you clearly say it, Elder brother will listen to you surely.
Don't you think so?
What a beautiful bride!
Be happy.
Good night.
As head of household, I should say some words maybe...
I have something very unexpected to tell you.
You'll probably be stunned,
but I must ask you a favor.
What is it about?
In actual fact, at the time of marrying you,
I took a firm resolution.
A firm resolution?
Please, make me just a formal wife.
I pierced the secret of the heart
And I would offend her consideration if I gave myself to you.
I will be content with a life of a symbolic marriage.
Please, return happy Oyu!
How can you say that?
Listen, I analyzed everything.
Until now, every time that someone presented me a pretender,
under pretext not to lose me,
Oyu managed to ruin it all.
This time,
she says that she is not going to feel lost,
that she has the impression to have won a brother besides.
It is not all.
In fact, since she met you,
her face is itself radiant.
Is not this an excess of your imagination?
Once one is married,
even though some insufficiencies exist,
one must respect the commitment taken.
It is very well to think of your sister,
but you cannot come to me to treat me pitilessly.
I don't think that Oyu herself, wishes that.
But yourself, you also like it.
And if you married me,
it is to be able to remain close to her, no?
But how...
Please! Don't hide it from me!
It is true, I am mad about her.
I don't hide it.
But for me, she would not be
anything else but a sister.
It will be hard for you...
he wouldn't have it otherwise.
As for me, it's impossible for me to take the one that she likes.
If I had not married you,
there would not have been a bridge between you.
I married you so that you would treat me like a sister.
So therefore, all your life...
are you going to sacrifice yourself for Oyu?
I don't sacrifice myself as much as she does.
She likes someone,
but she remains bound by rules.
Make her happy.
If you love her,
do as I say.
You are ready to live as a nun?
No matter.
No matter happens to me.
Shizu, these young, vernal leaves
don't they remind you of something?
One year already since last year, in Kyoto.
To say that the two young people of then are now husband and woman...
it is indeed astonishing, the meetings!
It is true.
I believe that Shizu will never forget the young leaves of that day.
And now, what do you think?
One would not be able to picnic here, before this pretty view?
Again a little patience. We are nearly arrived.
Let's go until the temple. The maples are so beautiful there.
My feet hurt.
You have nothing to carry.
Very well! Please, go up.
Light like a down cushion!
It is true. I often carried it when we went to the mountain.
Very pleasant. If I had known...
I would have complained earlier!
You left
I had thought
to Cut the reeds
desolate Beaches of Naniwa
I yearn more and more
The reeds are agitated
I didn't cut them
Our paths separated
desolate Beaches of Naniwa
to Languish is not good
From Naniwa to Mount Asaka...
This time, it is necessary to hold your breath until my signal.
Yes, madam!
What! You breathe! You cheated!
Let's restart.
Not again! I said: Not again!
This time, although he arrives,
it is not necessary to laugh. Ready?
One must not laugh!
What ardent love!
Don't be inconvenienced by us.
Nothing is more pleasant that the harmony of a couple.
What happiness to get along!
But it must be cruel for you to see them so tenderly linked.
She should yet have seen our names on the register!
Shizu, when she comes back, you only have to frolic with him.
Go, get closer to him so that she sees your love.
But it is not the pain, isn't'it?
Sit closer to him.
No matter! She is mistaken!
Get closer to him.
She is going to come back soon.
You bother me!
This joke lasted enough!
That then! One would say a kid!
Don't forget that you soon would have to have a child...
your child, do I wonder how he will be?
It is not tomorrow the eve.
What a funny girl!
Where is Shizu?
- Were you alone? - Yes.
Do you hear the frog singers?
So-called Shinnosukes...
with Shizu, how do you get along?
Yes, without problem.
It is so rare that she is angry!
It is not surely serious.
The manager was mistaken merely.
There is not any reason to be annoyed.
Where could she have gone?
I am going to see.
Shizu, is that you?
What's the matter?
Until now, I did everything you wanted me to do.
You don't believe that it is a mistake?
And why therefore?
Does this situation agree with you? Tell me the truth.
Do you wish we become true spouses?
We could continue to respect Oyu as our sister.
- But together, we would be able to... - Make her happy.
My feelings haven't changed since that night.
He is not what he seems to me.
It is very hards for me and I cannot remain like that.
It can happen than one day, Oyu becomes free.
You won't need me anymore then.
Let's remain as we are until that day.
You want to say
that you will leave me the day when she will be free?
What I wish
is to remain close to you two as a sister
Don't reject me!
Where did go?
The maid spoke to me about the cuckoo and I went to listen to it sing.
You worried us.
It is, it seems, very rare to hear it.
Hold, I hear it!
But no, it is a night raven!
Here, the nights are cool!
Do you want me to come?
I will act as your chaperone.
Rather propose that to your husband.
Good night!
When did he come by?
It was before the marriage of Miss Shizu.
And Oyu, what did she say then?
Lady said that she had had a heat stroke
and that she had been alone at the floral art master
to rest for an instant.
How have you learned that she was with Shinnosuke?
When he carried our gift of thanks,
the floral art master said that they had arrived together
and that together, they had left to go to madam's brother's house.
Enter.
No, I cannot waste my time in distractions. I'll go to the store.
Indeed?
- Greet your father-in-law well. - From my part also.
- Hey well, goodbye. - Goodbye.
Good return, madam.
Your son is not well!
Hajime, my child, what's the matter?
I have just come back.
What ails him?
He is dying.
Oyuki! Oume!
Run to look quickly for the doctor!
Immediately!
Son, are you ill?
Hang on!
Hello!
Hello, my aunt.
Shizu is not there?
She just left.
It appears that Oyu was sent back to her family. Is it true?
It is that her son died.
Some say that it is not the only reason. Are you informed?
What exactly happened between you?
I came to ask you.
Of what do you speak?
Some say sas that you fell into the hell of lust.
As for Shizu, she is well to pity,
but no wife is forced to such a loyalty.
Who propagates these stories?
I received some emissaries from the two families
that they especially sent to speak about it to me.
These are only lies!
Lies, I assure you!
Don't you see each other a little too frequently?
That she went back doesn't fix anything.
If you are not more discreet,
we will lose all social credit.
They didn't tell it to you,
but it is that, the true reason of your return.
Even if your son had not died.
But if you get settled here, I will be able to offer you your former life.
You're not the kind of woman to be satisfied with life at home.
I have a proposition to make to you.
Wouldn't you like to remarry?
Actually, this story comes from Yae.
She wanted for a long time for you to leave your in-laws.
She has, indeed, an offer of remarriage for you.
It is about M. Miyazu, a sake trader in Fushimi
It seems he saw you last year in the Daitokuji temple.
It was during a tea ceremony and it was love at first sight.
If you accept to marry him,
he says that he will offer you a life of luxury.
Did you know?
I went to see Yae the day before yesterday,
and, on account of the situation, she insisted that I speak to you.
Then?
I believe you when you say that you remained pure,
but in spite of that, things can turn badly.
I say that for your own good.
If you accept this proposition,
it will shut people up.
In any case, you are now free.
How to accept that you are cloistered again?
For us, it is unthinkable, is it not my friend?
You can finally follow the impetus of your wishes
If our elder brother cannot receive you,
you only have to come home.
We will live all three in good understanding.
If I accepted your offer,
the gossips would only get worse.
And you would suffer.
It is enough for them not to get busy.
Speak your mind!
I wonder if the grandfather took care my the son's ashes.
I would like, at least, to return to the tomb.
Shizu, do you want to come with me?
And then, we would be able to maybe...
go until the temple of Konpira.
Let's go with her.
We'll spend the night at Tadotsu
and we will go to the tomb the following day.
Next.
No matter what happens. No matter.
Don't say that!
Oyu, you must be tired.
But no, I feel well.
It's hot!
Shizu, go to the bath with your husband to mop the sweat.
Please bring wet napkins.
Is something wrong in your relationship?
You mustn't hide anything from me.
I am sure that there is something.
You don't behave like a spouse.
I don't know what it is, but it is not normal.
Is something wrong?
You mustn't feel all alone,
I will help you to solve your problem. Tell it to me.
Does he like someone else?
But no, it's nothing. We get along well.
But you are in tears!
Does one cry like that when all goes well?
Speak to me.
You are now my only worry.
Your only worry?
Are you going to marry this sake merchant?
Or go I don't know where?
I couldn't stand it if you died.
I won't die.
Please, make her your wife.
What are you saying?
I knew very early that you liked him.
Me?
Let me speak. Before I even got married, I had this intention.
At that time, you could not be together.
If I had not married him, you could not have continued to see him.
I wanted to be a bridge between you.
But you are...
Not at all.
We are not husband and wife,
but brother and sister
He made it impossible for me to take you, my sister
the one that you loved.
I confessed everything to Shinnosuke in the evening of the marriage.
I would be his formal wife, but his sister in reality.
We are again brother and sister.
Here is why you can, without any hindrance, become his wife.
As for me...
as for me, my biggest happiness
is to take care of you.
I didn't know that I had made such a mistake.
But no.
You never asked me to act thus.
We did it deliberately.
I know that it was insane,
but don't feel constrained.
- Shizu! - Stop!
For you, dear sister,
I am ready to live all my life in the shadows.
Lie! You lie!
You like Shinnosuke also!
If I let you do it,
I would be afraid of the beyond.
All can be re-established again.
Please, become henceforth true spouses.
Shinnosuke!
If you don't listen to me, we won't be brother and sister anymore.
I won't see you ever again.
Dinner is ready.
The third?
Madam said that she had a pressing business,
she took the 7 o'clock boat.
You made the right decision. It is better like that.
Your future husband is an influential trader. He will take care of you.
But I have a request for you.
I don't wish to remain here until the marriage.
I would like to prepare myself at Yae.
Okay!
It will be better like that.
I am going to leave immediately for Kyoto.
Immediately? Today?
Yes, today.
I don't want to see Shizu and Shinnosuke.
Eitaro,
give them this kimono and the accessories.
Tell them that it is to remember me.
Yes. I will do it.
I wonder where Oyu is.
It's been three years that we live in Tokyo.
And not a letter from her!
Where is this Lake Ogura located?
I hear that it is near Yodo.
If she knew that you are going to have a baby,
she would be surely very happy.
Good, I am going to work.
Come back quickly!
You don't look very well. Take care of yourself.
Especially in your state.
If you have someone to warn,
it would be better to do it very quickly.
Do you want to open a little?
It is again the season of the young leaves.
If that day, Oyu had not come with me,
we would not have known all these trials.
You were good and tender with me
and you made me very happy.
But that doesn't change that you belong to my sister.
How can say you that now!?
Even though I had wanted
to erase the picture of this sister,
it was impossible.
There is not any doubt.
I am here instead of her.
It is not true.
I came to like you, and I like all of you.
Think about the beautiful child who unites us.
I would have liked so much
that you belonged to me entirely.
If you like, Oyu's kimono...
help me put it on.
As it is heavy...
it is too heavy for me.
Thank you very much.
Please, come that way.
It was magnificent.
You seem to have a very pleasant life,
but you inspire compassion, Madam.
You are only a wife in name.
I don't understand your spouse.
We never see him at your meetings.
We probably don't have the same interests.
But you are good enough to come to see me.
That rejoices me so much that I forget the rest.
What's going on?
I would say that a baby is crying in the garden.
It is true.
I wonder what's wrong with him. He's crying loudly.
If you please!
Go see.
He could not have been abandoned so close to this residence?
TO Mrs. Oyu
From Shinnosuke
Someone you know?
I have just glimpsed at you from afar
and I am reassured.
Here is why I write you.
After her childbirth, Oshizu weakened
and she died after having this child.
I don't wish to confide it to an unknown person.
As I don't have the intention to remarry,
I would like to ask you to raise this child.
I know that this request can seem unreasonable
and I should have come to you to present it in person.
But I made a firm resolution of never seeing you again.
I beg of you, implore to you
Oshizu and myself,
united
stay by you forever.
Love you tenderly.
I have just had a beautiful child.
One full moon evening...
it is maybe a present from the Moon Lady.
It is my child, mine!
And he is cute!
Sleep, sleep, my beautiful baby.
Dear friend, play something for us
to celebrate the arrival.
You left
I had thought of cutting the reeds
desolate Beaches of Naniwa
yearned more and more
It was not necessary
to be this way.