MISUZ

MISUZU

	Director: Shoh Igarashi Cinematographer：Akiko Ashizawa (J.S.C) Lighting director：Masao Kanazawa Cast：Misato Tanaka, Katsuo Nakamura, Eiko Nagashima, Susumu Terashima, Nozomu Masuzawa, Toru Kase, Rena Komine, Issei Ogata Planning：Kinokuniya Photographer：Nobuyoshi Araki Produced by："MISUZU" producing commitee/Sakura Movie Company/Porque/ Yamaguchi Film Center Co-produced by：Yamaguchi Cinema Club Conference Supported by：Yamaguchi Prefecture, the Yamaguchi Board of Education/Nagato City/Nagato Baord of Education/Shimonoseki City/Shimonoseki Board of Education Editorial supervisor：Setsuo Yazaki Cooperated by：The Misuzu Kaneko Writing Preservation Meeting/JULA Publication Office/Haruki Kadokawa Office<2001 year/Japan/color/1:1.85/105 minutes >Memorial book published by：Kinokuniya Distributor: Cine Quanon

	I won't tell to anyone / that a flower dropped a tear/at a corner of the morning garden.. --- Misuzu Kaneko is a legendary, gifted poet of children's song, who died young at the age of 26. Her brief but fresh and vivid life. Revives now a legendary poet of children's song, Misuzu Kaneko. The truth hidden in her composition of poets; the record of a soul--- Winning great admiration from Yaso Saijo as "a giant star in young poets", Misuzu Kaneko, poet of children's song, died young at the age of 26. After her death, her works were scattered and lost, and she has been told as a legendary, gifted poet of children's song. However, at the opportunity of discovery of her posthumous works after half a century from her death, attention has been given to her personality also. Why did she choose to kill herself so young while leaving many excellent works? What's the truth hidden on the reverse side of such warm and gentle poems?



	This year when seventy-odd years have passed since her death, her whole life has been played on the stage, made as a TV drama, and turned into a movie which is this film titled "MISUZU". And in the midst of this hot Misuzu boom, director Shoh Igarashi, famous for "Good-by if I step on a mine", has directed this movie picture and printed Misuzu's life on the film with graceful and beautiful images. Forbidden love, no matter how hard she might desire---In 1923 in Shimonoseki, a port town in the Sea of Japan, 20-year-old Teru (Misato Tanaka) has contributed poetry to the magazine with a pen name called Misuzu. Her works found out by Yaso Saijo (Issei Ogata) have been carried one after another by the popular magazines. Her cousin Masasuke (Ryo Kase) is watching proudly Misuzu who has suddenly become an idol of poets of the nursery. In the days filled with a shining hope, they are camarades who study creative writing mutually and at the same time they are lovers secretly adoring each other. However, she keeps all to herself that this love is not allowed because Masasuke is really her younger brother who was adopted to their uncle when he was young. Forced by her family who are anxious about their relation, Misuzu is made to consider an expedient marriage with a partner contrary to her mind. Though she has the dearest daughter, she is given gonorrhea by her husband (Susumu Terashima) who runs the gamut of dissipation and frequents a licensed pleasure quarter. In addition to the aggravation of condition of disease, forbidden to write poetries as well as to keep correspondence with contribution friends, her mind and body have gradually weakened.Misuzu makes a decision in a still chilly spring night.Misuzu makes a decision in a still chilly spring night.



	The heroin Misuzu was played by Misato Tanaka who appeared on the NHK's continuation serialized TV novel "Aguri" and on "The koto of one string".Misuzu's husband was played by Susumu Terashima. Furthermore, in addition to the veteran actors such as Eiko Nagashima and Katsuo Nakamura, a young hot stock Toru Kase appearing and Issei Ogata acting the role of Yaso Saijo, such gorgeous actors and actresses concentrated to this film. Also it has become topic that Nobuyoshi Araki, known as a gifted photographer ARARKY, was fascinated with the poetry of Misuzu and took charge of movie steel photographer after an interval of about 20 years since "Zigeunerweisen" (directed by Seijun Suzuki)Misuzu comes back to the road-show theaters in this autumn: Ginza Cine-la-set, near by the central gate Ginza side of JR Yurakucho station (TEL 03-3212-3761) and Ikebukuro New Bungeiza, 3 minutes on foot from the east gate of Ikebukuro station (TEL 03-3971-9422). Special advance ticket of 1200 yen (tax included) is available at the theater's ticket office, ticket agencies in Tokyo or Kinokuniya book stores all over Japan. On-the-day charge: 1300 yen for adult and student /1000 yen for child and senior.



	Distributor Cine Quanon：http://www.cqn.co.jp Official site of Misuze：http://www.kinokuniya.co.jp
	Cinematographer's comment：The staff, the cast and the local people became a body for one month, in order to realize the director's aim. I think that the concentration has come out to the screen. Especially Ms. Misato Tanaka of starring is full of the charm which is another one from "Aguri". She is really wonderful. This is surely the work that I would like you to see on a screen.