Hoping for an international audience, Mizoguchi made his first color film in co-production with Hong Kong’s Shaw Brothers, who in turn were counting on the director’s name to give them a cultural seal of approval. All expectations were dashed. The audience was confused by the Chinese subject matter, while the producers were not enamored of Mizoguchi’s poetic flourish. In the melodrama, Mizoguchi transposed his pet theme - a woman’s self-sacrifice - to an imperial court in 8th-century China. The widowed emperor falls in love with a young servant, who becomes his mistress. This leads to political disaster.
(Arsenal Kino)