
What is the life of a Geisha like once her beauty has faded and she has retired? Kin has saved, and become a wealthy money-lender, spending her days coldly collecting debts. Even her best friends, fellow Geisha Tomi, Nobu, and Tamae, are now indebted to her. For all of them, the glamour of their young lives has passed; Tomi and Tamae have disappointing children. Kin has two former lovers who still pursue her; one she wants to see, and the other she doesn't. But even the one she remembers fondly, when he shows up, proves less than satisfactory.
Directed by Mikio Naruse, Late Chrysanthemums leans on a strong ensemble — Haruko Sugimura, Sadako Sawamura, Chikako Hosokawa — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1954.
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The arranged marriage between a capricious woman from Tokyo high society and a quiet rustic man is tested by a marital crisis.
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