The Story of the Last Chrysanthemum/ 残菊物語

The Story of the Last Chrysanthemum (残菊物語) is a 1939 film directed by Mizuguchi Kenji. It focuses on the story of Kikunosuke and Otoku.

Kikunosuke is the adopted son of a famous Kabuki family. Though everyone praises his acting, he is actually terrible. Only Otoku, a hired nursemaid, tells him the truth. When Kiku's family catches wind of this, they fire Otoku, and Kiku is disowned for not giving her up. He then goes to Osaka, where a year later, the lovers reunite. Various events lead them to lead a destitute life wandering the provinces until a chance for Kiku's redemption and reconciliation with his family presents itself.

The plot has several traits strongly associated with melodrama: the difference in social class between lovers, the disapproval of their society over their relationship, the lengths the lovers must go through to be together, and the eventual redemption of Kiku.

However, Mizuguchi focuses not on Kiku's journey, but on Otoku's. Kiku may go through the arc of an artist bettering themselves, but we never really learn what he does, or how he becomes better. Is it because he has suffered? Or is it because he learns something about human spirit from Otoku? In contrast, Otoku sacrifices and works to support Kiku's dream. Not because she is in love with Kiku, though she is, but because she truly believes that he can become a better actor. 

If this is a melodramatic story, then we should be able to ask ourselves if the ending is a Good one or a Bad one and find an answer. It is Good because Kiku becomes a famous and recognized Kabuki artists, the lovers are reunited again briefly, Otoku has achieved her goal? Or is it Bad because Otoku has been neglected, cast aside, and left to die? In the moral universe of this movie the answer can be a little muddled.

"Music in melodrama is a dramatic narrative in which musical accompaniment marks the emotional effects.” - Thomas Elsaesser (Tales of Sound and Fury)

Use of Music in Story of the Last Chrysanthemum:

•  Accompaniment music: chanting, song, koto, shamisen, drums. Helps set the mood and inform environment.
• Motifs: Kiku - Kabuki Music, Otoku - silence, wind chimes. 
• "High" music and provincial music.