An Inlet of Muddy Water
An Inlet of Muddy Water, also titled Muddy Waters, is a 1953 Japanese drama film directed by Tadashi Imai. Based on three short stories by Ichiyō Higuchi, it received numerous national film prizes and is regarded as a major work of Imai by film historians.
Plot
In three episodes, the film portrays the fate of women during the Meiji era:Episode 1: "The Thirteenth Night": Young wife Seki turns up at her parents' house, announcing that she wants to divorce her abusive husband. Her father talks her into returning to her marital home, as her parents' welfare and the career of her brother depend on the marriage, also reminding her that she will have to leave her young son behind. On her way back home in a rickshaw, she discovers that the driver is Rokunosuke, a childhood friend who never got over their separation. They reminisce their once mutual affection, but part ways without an outlook to meeting again.
Episode 2: "On The Last Day Of The Year": Mine works as a maid in the strict household of Mrs. Yamamura, wife of a wealthy businessman. To help her sick uncle who is in debt, Mine asks her employer to lend her money. Mrs. Yamamura first agrees, but later withdraws her offer. Out of desperation, Mine steals money from a household drawer and gives it to her aunt. Moments before her misdemeanour is revealed, Mrs. Yamamura's carefree son Ishinosuke takes the remaining money to waste it on gambling and drinking, thus obliterating all traces of Mine's theft.
Episode 3: "Troubled Waters": Courtesan O-Riki is the "star" of a brothel in a red light district. To her disapproval, she is still being followed by her impoverished former patron Genshichi who spent all his money on her. O-Riki gets involved with a new client, Asanosuke, but is reluctant to the possible prospect of marriage, citing her profession and her poor upbringing as reasons. Meanwhile, Genshichi forces his wife and little son to leave him due to her constant complaints that he is unable to support the family. Afterwards, he waylays O-Riki, murders her and commits suicide.
Cast
Episode 1: "The Thirteenth Night"- Ken Mitsuda as Saito Kanae
- Akiko Tamura as Saito Moyo
- Hiro Kumon as Saito Inosuke
- Yatsuko Tanami as Harada Seki
- Hiroshi Akutagawa as Takasaka Rokunosuke
- Susumu Tatsuoka as Yamamura Kahee
- Teruko Nagaoka as Yamamura Aya
- Noboru Nakaya as Yamamura Ishinosuke
- Kyōko Kishida as Yamamura Shizuko
- Yoshiko Kuga as Mine
- Nobuo Nakamura as Yasubee
- Michiko Araki as Shin
- Shiro Inui as Minosuke
- Kazuo Kitamura as Rickshaw man
- Hisao Toake as Tobei
- Yoshie Minami as O-Yae
- Chikage Awashima as O-Riki
- Sō Yamamura as Asanosuke
- Seiji Miyaguchi as Genshichi
- Haruko Sugimura as O-Hatsu
- Maiko Hojo as O-Taka
- Natsuko Kahara
Release