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| Festival Year |
Festival Section |
| 2019 |
REDISCOVERIES AND RESTORATIONS |
| Film Title |
CHUSHINGURA |
| Alternative Title 1 |
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| Alternative Title 2 |
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| Alternative Title 3 |
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| Country |
Japan |
| Release Date |
circa 1910-1917 |
| Production Co. |
Yokota Shokai, Nikkatsu |
| Director |
Makino Shozo |
| Format |
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Speed (fps) |
| DCP |
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| Footage |
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Time |
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90' |
| Archive Source |
National Film Archive of Japan, Tokyo |
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| Print Notes |
(inclusa demo restauro iniziale/including restoration demo at the beginning)
da/from 35mm, 16 fps, parzialmente imbibito/partially tinted
did./titles: JPN |
| Cast |
| Onoe Matsunosuke (Asano Takuminokami; Oishi Kuranosuke; Shimizu Ichigaku), Kataoka Ichinojo (Kira Kozukenosuke), Arashi Kiraku (Kataoka Gengoemon; Tachibana Sakon), Otani Kijaku (Wakisaka Awajinokami; Murakami Kiken; proprietario del ristorante di soba/soba restaurant owner), Kataoka Ichitaro (il figlio maggiore di Oishi/Oishi’s eldest son; il figlio del proprietario del ristorante di soba/soba restaurant owner’s son) |
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| Other Information |
| Restauro digitale/Digital restoration 2019 |
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| Program Notes |
Chushingura represents one of the collaborations between director Makino Shozo (1878-1929), the father of Japanese film, and actor Onoe Matsunosuke (1875-1926), Japan’s first movie star. From 1907 to 1925, around sixty “Chushingura” films were produced. This digitally restored version, the longest, also contains the oldest existing “Chushingura” film, dating from 1910.
“Chushingura” is the generic term for a series of stories that originated in an actual historical event in March 1701, during the Edo Era, which took place in the Great Pine Corridor of Edo Castle, the residence of the Tokugawa Shogun. Asano Naganori (Asano Takuminokami), the lord of Ako Castle in western Japan, bloodily attacked Kira Yoshihisa (Kira Kozukenosuke). Kira came from a powerful family who had often insulted Asano in public for his country- bred clumsiness. The Tokugawa Shogunate, who forbade violence in Edo Castle, punished Asano for his savage act by ordering him to commit hara-kiri, and then terminated the Asano clan, while Kira’s provocations went unpunished. Asano’s retainers were unhappy with this decision, and, having lost their master, became ronin (vagrants). The 47 ronin, led by Oishi Yoshio (Oishi Kuranosuke), attacked Kira’s residence before daybreak on 31 January 1703 (14 December 1702 in the old Japanese calendar). The story ends with the 47 ronin being sentenced to death by hara-kiri.
This saga of loyalty and revenge has been popular with the Japanese people for generations, and has been repeatedly depicted in a variety of media: Kabuki, Joruri, film, television, and literature. Many “Chushingura” films starring Onoe Matsunosuke were released as “new” films, patched together from scenes of previous releases. One of these, produced by Yokota Shokai in 1910, was the first film to show the entire “Chushingura” tale from beginning to end. This digitally restored version used as source material the following three prints, which are believed to have been mainly edited from the scenes of the 1910 film: the 42-minute benshi-narrated talkie version of Chushingura in the collection of the National Film Archive of Japan (35mm, b&w); the 74-minute benshi-narrated talkie version of Jitsuroku Chushingura (35mm, b&w) stored at Matsuda Film Productions; and the 49-minute version of Chushingura on nitrate (35mm, tinted) discovered by benshi Ichiro Kataoka, who will narrate the film in person in Pordenone. The Kataoka version became the main source for our restoration, as it is silent full-frame, without a trace of stretched frames, and the closest generation to the original negative. We decided to keep the cuts presumably added from the films produced after 1910 to respect its present state, which reflects the film’s history and continual changes in both form and popularity. Synopsis: In 1701, Asano Takuminokami, in charge of receiving Imperial envoys in Edo, is repeatedly harassed by his instructor Kira Kozukenosuke in various ways. When Kira confirms the preparation of a reception venue, Asano is made to lose face, but keeps his temper. On the day of a reception at Edo Castle, Asano, following Kira’s suggestion, dresses informally and embarrasses himself. After changing to formal dress, Asano begs Kira for advice on the feast, but is insulted. Finally, Asano slashes Kira between the eyebrows, and is restrained. The Tokugawa Shogunate orders Asano to commit hara-kiri and surrender Ako Castle. Asano leaves a farewell poem filled with anger and sorrow with his retainer, Kataoka Gengoemon.
Oishi Kuranosuke, the chief retainer of Ako Castle, resenting the Shogun’s decision, firmly makes up his mind and those of the remaining 46 retainers to avenge Asano’s death. Oishi hands over Ako Castle, but keeps the written pledge of revenge sealed with the blood of the 47 ronin.
To mislead people, Oishi indulges himself in the Geisha houses of Kyoto. Even when ronin from other regions propose vengeance, he feigns ignorance. His wife returns to her parents’ home, leaving her debauched husband and their eldest son.
Oishi heads to Edo under the name of Tachibana Sakon, a palace official. At an inn, the real Tachibana appears. Oishi shows him a blank letter identifying himself as Tachibana. Tachibana suspects a revenge plan, but to support the plot says that he himself is the fake Tachibana. Oishi visits Asano’s widow. Suspecting a servant is a spy, he doesn’t tell her his true intentions, and simply leaves the pledge of the 47 ronin.
In 1703, the 47 ronin secretly gather at a soba restaurant, and then head to Kira’s residence. During the attack, Shimizu Ichigaku, a master swordsman on Kira’s side, loses his life. Kira is found hiding in a coal shed and is killed. The 47 ronin go to Asano’s grave to report the completion of their long-cherished plan. – Mika Tomita |
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