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The Woman in the Rumor
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Wikipedia article
is a 1954 black-and-white Japanese film directed by Kenji Mizoguchi.
Plot
Hatsuko Umabuchi is a widow who maintains a successful courtesan (tayuu) house in Kyoto. Her daughter Yukiko returns from Tokyo following an attempted suicide. Hatsuko is having a discreet affair with the young Dr. Matoba, who works for the courtesan guild and who looks after her. Yukiko immediately despises the doctor, while Matoba begins to harbor feelings for Yukiko.
Matoba wants to open his own practice, and is considering a move to Tokyo. Hatsuko does not want him to leave her and implores him to stay in Kyoto. Meanwhile Yukiko deals with the shame of her mother's profession, as it was after her lover's family discovered Hatsuko's background that Yukiko tried to commit suicide by overdose. Hatsuko remains remorseless about her chosen profession, as it has paid their way.
As time passes, Yukiko helps out at the courtesan house, and begins to feel compassion for the women who work there, seeing how their circumstances affect their choice to work at the establishment. As her perspective changes so does her feelings toward Matoba. They plot to run away to Tokyo together. But when Yukiko realizes that Matoba is betraying her mother, she spurns him, causing him to leave both of them.
Cast
* Kinuyo Tanaka as Hatsuko Mabuchi
* Tomoemon Otani as Kenji Matoba
* Yoshiko Kuga as Yukiko Mabuchi
* Eitar Shind as Yasuichi Harada
* Bontaro Miyake as Kobayashi
References
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