Special Series

The Story of the Last Chrysanthemums

残菊物語

Directed by: Kenji Mizoguchi
1939 / 143 minutes / PG

When love dares to speak, art begins to breathe.

In Meiji-era Japan, where legacy matters more than talent, young kabuki actor Kikunosuke basks in empty praise—celebrated not for his acting, but for bearing his famous father’s name. It is Otoku, his infant brother’s wet nurse, who first sees the truth and dares to say it aloud. In her honesty, Kikunosuke finds a rare connection, one that costs them both dearly. Cast out for loving her, Kikunosuke leaves behind his old life to rebuild from nothing—driven by artistic growth and Otoku’s quiet devotion. Yet, in the world of melancholic fate, his star rises as hers fades.  

Directed with the aching grace that defines Kenji Mizoguchi’s early artistry, The Story of the Last Chrysanthemums is a mournful portrait of devotion, class and creative ambition. Through hypnotic long takes and emotional restraint, this heartrending masterpiece reveals the invisible cost of genius—and the women left behind in its shadow.