| An Inlet of Muddy Water | |
|---|---|
| |
| Kanji | にごりえ |
| Directed by | Tadashi Imai |
| Written by | |
| Based on | Short stories byIchiyō Higuchi |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Shun'ichirō Nakao |
| Music by | Ikuma Dan |
| Distributed by | Shochiku |
Release date | |
Running time | 130 minutes[1][2] |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
An Inlet of Muddy Water (Japanese:にごりえ,romanized: Nigorie), also titledMuddy Waters, is a 1953 Japanesedrama film directed byTadashi Imai. Based on three short stories byIchiyō Higuchi, it received numerous national film prizes and is regarded as a major work of Imai by film historians.[3][4][5]
In three episodes, the film portrays the fate of women during theMeiji 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.
Episode 1: "The Thirteenth Night"
Episode 2: "On The Last Day Of The Year"
Episode 3: "Troubled Waters"
An Inlet of Muddy Water was shown in competition at the1954 Cannes Film Festival.[6]
An Inlet of Muddy Water is based on Ichiyō Higuchi's short storiesThe Thirteenth Night (Japanese:十三夜,romanized: Jusan'ya, 1895),On the Last Day of the Year (Japanese:大つごもり,romanized: Ōtsugomori, 1894), andTroubled Waters (also:Muddy Bay,Japanese:にごり江,romanized: Nigorie, 1895). Other than the film, Higuchi's original storyTroubled Waters ends with the discovery of the bodies of O-Riki and Genshichi and the passersby's speculations whether the two committedshinjū (lovers' double suicide) or O-Riki fell victim to a crime, leaving it to the reader to decide.
An Inlet of Muddy Water was screened at theMuseum of Modern Art in 2022 as part of its "Beyond Ozu: Hidden Gems of Shochiku Studios" retrospective.[7]
An Inlet of Muddy Water was awarded theKinema Junpo Award, theBlue Ribbon Award and theMainichi Film Award[8] for Best Film. Two additional Mainichi Film Awards went to Imai forBest Direction and Haruko Sugimura asBest Supporting Actress (forAn Inlet of Muddy Water andTokyo Story).[8]
