The film spans 29 years from 1932-1951 in a small village in rural Japan. Heibei (Nakadai) is a young land owner, who forcefully marries Sadako (Takamine) after raping her. Sadako was in love with Takashi, which Heibei does not like. Over the years they have children of their own, and they each try and find love in their own separate ways.
Kinoshita is quickly becoming one of my favourite directors. He had a 23 year career directing a 42 films containing a wide variety of subjects. This film was a pleasant surprise, especially seeing as it is completely unheard of.
The soundtrack is a pulsating flamenco music, which raises any time the film gets heated. This is something I haven't heard before in any film, but, strangely, it works very well.
It contains Japan's two greatest actors Tatsuya Nakadai ('Harakiri', 'Ran', 'Yojimbo') and Hideko Takamine ('24 Eyes', 'Flowing'), facing off against each other as a married couple which hate each other. As expected, the acting is immense. The film plays out as a character study between the two main characters, as many catastrophes happen to them. In five chapters the film explores the dark side of marriage, filled with regret, pain and arguments. Its not a happy film, but a powerful, sad and visually stunning study on married life. The sort of film I was hoping 'The Sting of Death' would be.
The cinematography matches the tone of the film, with claustrophobic interiors and vast exteriors. The village is located in the flatlands in-between a group of tall mountains. Whenever the action moves to the glorious and beautiful open land of rural Japan, it gives the film a breathe of fresh air. The landscape really is gorgeously vast, making 'Immortal Love' a must-see for it's visual beauty and incredible acting.
TO CONCLUDE
A Picturesque and stunning, acting masterclass. It's close to being Kinoshita's best film.
SCORE
81
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