The Life of Oharu (西鶴一代女)

THE LIFE OF OHARU

Kinuyo Tanaka

Toshiro Mifune

Directed by Kenji Mizoguchi

Oharu?

You didn't get a customer either?

It's hard for a fifty year old woman to pretend to be twenty

Don't think like that

I was chosen by an old man from the pilgrims' inn

I thought I was lucky

I went in,

I found myself in a candlelit place,

as though praying to Buddha

He said to the young men:

"Look at this painted face

"Do you still want to buy a woman?"

I am nothing but a spectacle of an ill-fated woman

You've had a bad time from the start.

Osen, he's lit a fire again

We can get warm and go home!

I hear you served at the palace

I never expected you to be doing this

What has led to your ruin?

Do not ask more about my past.

By the fire again?

All right, but be careful

Worried about your hair?

You haven't much to lose!

Where are you going?

I'm taking the first harvest fee to Shimogorio,

at my master's order

You can see the town,

you are so rarely let out

I would be reprimanded

Pretend you didn't know

Kikukoji, you are up early

Saidoin is worried

because you haven't sent a poem in return

He tells everything

Tell me about the daring poem he sent you

Please

excuse me, sir

Mistress Oharu, please wait!

I am Katsunosuke, servant of the noble Kikukoji

He wishes to speak to you in private

Please come to the house in town

I am sent on errand

Please spare a few minutes

after you have competed your errand

Mistress Oharu...

Have you read the letter I gave you the other day?

Who would read such a letter from a servant such as you?

I burned it without reading it

I have no talent for poetry or witticism,

but I have sincerity.

You may look down on my class,

but do not scorn my sentiments.

If refinement is a game

of kicking words of sincerity like a ball,

then I am not refined.

How can someone like you ever understand refined taste?

You cannot appreciate the taste of noble people.

Do you know

any noble who thinks of you with sincerity

and who wishes to marry you?

Please go!

I say this for your happiness.

It is not your business.

I will give up,

if you dislike me.

I do dislike you.

Are you thinking of my humble origin?

Please leave!

Women can only be happy if they marry for true love.

Status and money are not happiness.

I told you to leave.

I did not come here to listen to your story

I will wait for noble Kikukoji alone.

Please leave

He will not come

Please wait!

I apologize,

but I was desperate to see you

I have thought of you

ever since you entered service at the palace

Please accept my love

I did read your letter

Whatever you write,

I could never be with you.

Why not?

Neither the palace nor my father

would allow it.

Then we must run away together

I will take good care of you

and make you happy

We have been told

that prostitutes use this inn.

Heaven forbid! Whoever reported that?

Who are you?

I am a traveler

Whom do you work for?

Todo of Iga...

Insosuke

Where does this prostitute come from?

Insolence! I am no such thing!

I am the daughter

of Tambanosuke Okui, a temple guardian of Chionin.

You must come with us

Mistress Oharu,

despite being a servant of the Imperial Household,

you have indulged in immoral activity

with a man of humble origin.

For this offence,

you will be banished from the city.

The father and the mother

are reprimanded

and also banished from the city

for their lack of supervision.

Judgment given

the seventh of November, 1686.

Relatives may go no further.

Faithless daughter...

making us live here in shame, ruining our ancient family.

Why is it sinful for a man and a woman

to love each other?

What impudence!

You had a liaison with a man whom we did not approve.

That is sin enough.

Our origins were different,

but what is wrong in our sincere love?

Be quiet!

Is there anything you want to say?

Yes. A message for Mistress Oharu.

Tell me.

I wish you to find a good man

and make a happy home.

Promise me

you will marry with true affection.

That's all?

Nothing else?

I hope the day will come

when all may be free to love regardless of status.

Mistress Oharu!

The officials have given us

the will of Katsunosuke.

I have not told your father

I will join Katsunosuke!

That is not your world.

Death is the end of everything.

A messenger from Lord Matsudaira

Show him into the house at once

Is it something serious?

We are seeking a concubine for our Lord

A fast palanquin to seek a concubine...

It is no laughing matter!

Our Lady's health is poor, there is no heir.

It is rumored that our Lord's line may die out

If so, that is a serious matter

We have presented women to our Lord,

but he dislikes country-bred women

His counselors are at a loss

They have the idea that a young woman

may be found here in Kyo,

famous for its beautiful women,

so they've sent me in a hurry.

I thought you had come

to ask me for money.

If that's all you require,

it's easy.

On the contrary,

there are my conditions.

The Lord wishes the woman to look like this.

Age: fifteen to eighteen

The face must be fashionable and round

The Lord dislikes small eyes,

but the eyebrows must be thick

A shapely nose, a small mouth,

white teeth, well-proportioned ears,

a clear brow,

a long neck with no wisps of hair at the nape.

Long and slender fingers.

It is indeed an extraordinary request.

There is more.

Feet must be rather small.

Longer than average torso,

small waist, well-rounded hips.

Well-mannered and good tempered.

No blemishes on the body.

The mouth's too big.

- What size are your socks? - Medium, sir.

If I may say so,

no one but me

could gather so many girls together in Kyo City.

I cannot do any more.

Can't you pick one of these?

If it's just to produce an heir,

good health is enough.

Thick eyebrows,

shapely nose, white teeth...

You know it by heart