The Woman of Rumour (1954)

 Kenji Mizoguchi's "The Woman of Rumour"


If there's one thing you can say about a Kenji Mizoguchi film, it's that it will thematic focus on the strife and struggle of women. It seems enormously important for Mizoguchi to illustrate the dire circumstances women face in society. His 1954 film "The Woman of Rumour" adheres to this consistently revisited notion. 

Centering on a woman who runs a courtesan house, "The Woman of Rumour" iterates the notion that women are placed in a precarious situation in which they are far more shamed for their behavior than men are. Regardless of the circumstances, women don't quite have the ability to escape the harsh opinions and criticism of the society of men  - and surprisingly, even women - around them. 

Once a 'woman of rumour,' it becomes impossible to thrive in a society that has branded you as such. The women of the film find it difficult to get ahead economically, simply due to the labels and rumors placed on them. While women are in this circumstance, the men of the film can act in the same manner, and still not hold contempt from anyone else. 

These themes are littered through "The Woman of Rumour." Mizoguchi has a fondness for the women of his films and his spotlight on their mistreatment, both personally and socially, seems like an attempt to get the viewer to empathize for their precarious circumstances. And it is certainly effective storytelling.



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