Screening
Straits of Love and Hate (Aienkyo)
Dir. Kenji Mizoguchi. 1937, 108 mins. 35mm print from the National Film Center (Tokyo). With Fumiko Yamaji, Masao Shimizu. Set in a country inn in the northern mountains of Shinsu, ostensible shinpa (melodrama) adaptation Straits of Love and Hate also freely borrows elements from Leo Tolstoy’s Resurrection. After a servant is impregnated by her master’s son, they run away to Tokyo together. There he abandons her and the child, leaving her to turn to a career in prostitution and manzai comedy with a small traveling theater troupe. One of the most scarcely seen of Mizoguchi’s extant works, it has long been championed by critic Tony Rayns as one of his best.
Free with Museum admission on a first-come, first-served basis. Museum members may reserve tickets in advance by calling 718 777 6800. For more information on membership and to join online, visit our membership page.
