An Affair at Akitsu

A melodrama on a love encounter that is a metaphor of the history of Japan from 1945 through 1962. In the summer of 1945, student Shusaku arrives at the Akitsu baths to cure tuberculosis he contracted during the war. He is assisted by a chambermaid, Shinko, a young independent woman who dreams of a country free from the tradition that oppresses women. They fall in love. When they are informed of Japan?s surrender in World War II, they try suicide, but are not successful. Shusaku then decides to return home to the city. The lovers continue to meet in the 17 years following, but never establish a lasting relationship. Inspite Shusaku’ mundane existence (he is more and more cynical), Shinko is true to her love. The last of their encounters is to be marked by tragedy.

Born in 1933, in Fukui, Japan. He studied French Literature and, in 1955, joined Shochiku producers as Assistant Director to Keisuke Kinoshita. He directed his first film in 1960 with Good-for-Nothing. He was first noticed by the critics in 1962, with An Affair at Akitsu, A Story Written with Water (1965), The Affair (1967), Eros + Massacre (1969) and Heroic Purgatory (1970), dealing with political and sexual themes. Yoshida always refused interference with his work and, after he filmed Coup D’Etat (1973), he made documentaries for TV and for the cinema. He went back to fiction in 1986, with A Promise, followed by Wuthering Heights (1988), an adaptation of the novel by the same name by Emily Brontë. Women at the Mirror (2002), his last film, is programmed for the 27th Mostra.

43ª MOSTRA INTERNACIONAL DE CINEMA

43ª MOSTRA INTERNACIONAL DE CINEMA