Black Rose Mansion (黒薔薇の館)

They say a storm follows a quiet and beautiful sunset...

...and that's how it was that day.

Such a beautiful sunset that it worried people.

I was on my way to work...

...when I stopped and stood still... that's when it happened.

When she appeared and entered our lives.

Looking back on it now...

...I see that she was the beautiful sunset before the storm.

BLACK ROSE MANSION

Producer Oda Akira Screenplay Matsuda Hiroo Fukasaku Kinji

Cinematography Kawamata Akira Music Kaburaki So Production Design Kumaya Masao

Lighting Miura Rei Editing Terada Aki Sound Satou Hirofumi Recording Kobayashi Hideo

Starring Maruyama Akihiro

Tamura Masakazu Kawazu Yusuke

Matsuoka Kikko Usami Junya Komatsu Katamasa

Nurou Ayako Sone Hafumi Hozumi Takanobu Jou Akira Murota Hideo

Taki Sataro Hanai Ryokutaro Yamayoshi Kosaku Sonoda Kenji Okamoto Tadayuki Morozumi Keijiro Kajima Jun Watanabe Noriyuki Mizumori Kumiko

Hori Manami Izumi Maki Komori Hideaki Tsuchida Keiji Kawashima Terumitsu Mizuki Ryoko Nakagawa Hideto Tsuchiki Youji Oshima Shotaro Takahata Yoshizo

Nishimura Akira Uchida Ryohei Osawa Eitaro

Directed by Fukasaku Kinji

Black Rose Manor was originally my father's villa...

...but I made it into my own secret getaway...

...a refined and elegant salon for my hobbies...

...it was my secret pride.

- Welcome. - Thanks.

How was your trip ?

It was a business trip, so... what can I say.

Yes, sir.

The woeful autumn colors Autumn she is pale lavendar

Let's walk together Outside of town

Our cold little fingers Clasped together, we walk

Who's that beauty ?

A recent introduction from Mr. Mizukami...

Feeling pity Though we are in love

We can't help it We can't be together

Pity you and me We can't leave each other

But we can't be apart What will become of us

Ah, such grief Pretend that we're not grieving

Ah, this grief

I see you too have fallen in love at first sight, with Miss Ryuko Fujio.

Ryuko Fujio ?

She's a mysterious woman.

Mysterious ?

I came across her by accident at a club in Yokohama...

...but I don't think even there they knew her by that name.

Nobody knows where she lives.

She just appears at the door at eight o'clock...

...she always sings love songs...

...and then she goes home at eleven o'clock...

...accompanied by a young mulatto.

We don't know anything about Ryuko Fujio, her past, or her present.

She remains an utter mystery...

...but that's just one more charming mystery about her.

For example, that man there - the writer Kajiiwa Shintaro...

...tried chatting her up in his half baked French...

There's a woman who stirs up feelings of pleasure and the desire to conquest.

She's different.

She is the woman who makes you think that you will die peacefully...

...watched over by her.

When he heard that, he thought she was just an artsy bohemian.

Look, there she is... with the politician Izumikawa.

Here, drink up, you little -

She was the very picture of a noble woman.

Murakami san ? Are you badmouthing someone again ?

No...Let me introduce you.

This here is Sakou - who, besides being one of the directors...

...also manages this place as a hobby.

There's something l'd like to ask you, if it's not rude to ask.

What is it ?

What's the reason for that black rose you're carrying ?

You're interested in the strangest things.

There's no particular reason for my asking.

Is it because this place is called The Black Rose Mansion ?

Well, it's just a coincidence that I came here...but...

As you suggest, there is a reason for the black rose.

This is my symbol of love.

Symbol of love ?

Yes. Permanent love. A symbol of true love...

...and when I truly fall in love... the flower will change to red.

The flower will turn red ?

That hardly seems possible in the real world.

But I truly believe that someday this black rose will turn red.

I believe it too. Exactly like you said.

You get it, right ?

That's why every man in the place is blind with love for her.

Blind ? You're joking.

You're just like the original Prima Donna of Milano.

We won't have any of that crass talk here, mister.

The Greek god of the seas would fall in love with her at first sight.

Father.

Welcome home.

When did you arrive ?

I just got here.

So you just came straight here ?

Yeah. Why ?

Wataru has returned.

Wataru's back ? Was he over at your place ?

There's no reason for him to come to our house.

l'm the hated older brother, right ?

He pilfered some money from Mother... and then he left again.

Welcome home, sir.

She's still up ?

Did you just get in ?

What are you doing up this late ? What would you do if I touched you ?

But l'm feeling good tonight.

It seems Wataru came back.

What to do with that kid...

He comes here asking for money.

And in return he left this...

Like "the shrimp that caught the mackeral," as he put it.

A black rose.

They say it's impossible to make a perfect black rose.

But he swears it's real.

That kid, he always says the most ridiculous things.

That stupid kid. I wish he'd grow up.

You used to say the same thing to me.

When I took a lover... and left the house.

Yes, and I was not mistaken then either.

If only you had heeded my advice in the first place.

And then I would have never gone for a drive...

...and that man would not have been killed...

...and my body would not have become lifeless for more than ten years.

No, you're always right... And you're so kind.

You've absolutely never made a mistake.

Why the troubled expression ?

No, no, I was just...

Our goddess is always punctual.

Exactly. She won't be here a minute before eight o'clock.

Ryuko's husband is here tonight.

Ryuko's husband ?

Is everything all right, sir ?

Show him in.

Sir, he's a bit...

I said show him in.

Hey, you.

Who the hell are you ?

The shape of your skull...

...reminds me of Sinanthropus Pekinsus - descended from Peking Man.

What ?

When you ask someone his name... you start by introducing yourself.

You obviously don't have any manners.

I am Ishikawa, member of Parliament.

Oh really. I am Otomo... a scholar in archaeology.

Mr. Otomo !

I am the novelist, Kajiiwa Shintaro. Are you really Ryuko's -

Ryuko !

Where is she ! Where have you hidden her !

Ryuko is my wife.

Ryuko was crazy.

But we were very happy.

I was engrossed in my research day and night.

When I tired of that I would find her.

That luscious body, that body brought me so much satisfaction.

When she moaned in ecstasy...

Ryuko is my crazy wife.

Ryuko.

Ryuko. It's me, your husband.

It's all right.

You've lost your mind but you are my wife.

You left the house while I was at the university.

l've been searching for you ever since, Ryuko.

You must remember !

You must remember me, my love.

Your voice of true rapture when I made love to you.

Even when your spirit was dark your body knew true happiness.

l've been longing for you.

My body is special for you.

Our lovemaking is unique.

I know your body like no one else.

Ryuko ! You are my wife !

Your wife ?

You remember me, darling.

I don't know you.

Really.

Which one of them is lying ?

You blew it.

You're the same as me.

Welcome home.

Welcome home.

Oh. You're here.

You're pretty late.

Mother and I were just talking about that woman.

What woman ?

The one you're infatuated with.

Ridiculous.

Well, l'Il be on my way.

Really ? Best regards to Reiko.

Okay.

Noboru has become quite nosy... these days.

He doesn't care about people's feelings.

He must be pretty bored.

Good evening, Sir.

Excuse me... yet another one has arrived.

Another one ?

Saying he has some relation to Ryuko.

Who let him in ?

I did.

It's okay, isn't it ? This should be interesting...

Here she comes now.

The beautiful scented flower The rumba sings of the rose