The Melbourne Cinémathèque & ACMI present
The Wandering Princess
When
Wed 22 Nov 2023
Tanaka’s fourth feature as director, and her first in colour, is a powerful collaboration with writer Natto Wada (The Burmese Harp) – based on the book by Hiroko Aiishinkakura – centring on the Japanese woman chosen to marry the younger brother of the “puppet” Emperor of Manchuria during its occupation by Japan in the 1930s and early 1940s. Machiko Kyo (Mizoguchi’s Princess Yang Kwei-Fei) stars in this characteristically complex tale of female hardship, thwarted desire, arranged marriage and the yoke of imperial male power. It develops into a tragic romantic drama of star-crossed lovers as Japan loses the war.
Also screening on Wed 22 November
Program
Behind the Screen: Kinuyo Tanaka, trailblazing filmmaker
The Moon Has Risen (1955) – Wed 15 Nov, 7pm
Forever a Woman (A.K.A The Eternal Breasts) (1955) – Wed 15 Nov, 9pm
Love Under the Crucifix (1962) – Wed 22 Nov, 7pm
The Wandering Princess (1960) – Wed 22 Nov, 8.55pm
About the program
Kinuyo Tanaka (1909–77) is one of the greatest and most prolific screen actors and – after Sakane Tazuko – only the second woman to make it as a film director in the Japanese film industry. Appearing in 250 films over the span of 50 years, Tanaka acquired her first screen credit aged 14, while her major breakthrough came in films such as Ozu’s I Graduated But… (1929)...
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About Melbourne Cinémathèque
Australia's longest-running film society, Melbourne Cinémathèque screens significant works of international cinema in the medium they were created, the way they would have originally screened.
Melbourne Cinémathèque is self-administered, volunteer-run, not-for-profit and membership-driven.
