The Chrysanthemum and the Guillotine

The Chrysanthemum and the Guillotine, directed by Takahisa Zeze, is a historical drama released in 2018 and starring prominent actors Shun Sugata, Masatoshi Nagase, and Masahiro Higashide. The film is a standout piece in Japanese cinema, combining the vibrant culture of post-war Japan with the bleak moments trailing the Great Kanto Earthquake in the 1920s. The film centers on two distinct groups: the wandering women sumo wrestlers (onna zumo) and a faction of anarchists known as the Guillotine society. These two factions make the thematic covers for a cross-section of the turbulent era the world’s second-biggest economy was in transition.

The plot of The Chrysanthemum and the Guillotine commences in the immediate aftermath of the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. The earthquake, one of the worst natural disasters in Japan's history, serves as a canvas on which Zeze etches his story. Following this devastating event, growing unrest and dissatisfaction with the existing sociopolitical order ushered in the rise of radical movements, such as the Guillotine society.

On the one hand, the film focuses on women sumo wrestlers. Sumo wrestling, a rigid, traditional Japanese sport, is most often associated with heavy, powerful men. The film encapsulates stunt-like performances of these robust women to portray life's agonies and afflictions through their wrestling matches. It unfolds the characters' commitments towards their craft and the intense struggle to survive amid societal discrimination and economic hardship. This narrative is made compelling through the performances of the ensemble cast, led by Shun Sugata.

On the flip side, there is the brooding Guillotine Society — a radical anarchist group comprised of disenchanted intellectuals, workers, and peasants who share a mutual disdain for the emperor. They see the emperor as the symbol of Japan’s current disappointments and they pledge to chop off his head using a guillotine — hence denoting the prominent guillotine in the title. Masatoshi Nagase and Masahiro Higashide play key roles within this rebel faction, representing the agitation and angst within the society during those times.

The dual-layered narrative gives rise to a wave of collisions and encounters between the characters from both groups. This overlap presents various facets of post-war Japan and raises many nuanced cultural, social, and political aspects. Their interlocking stories dare to depict intense romance, the struggle for survival, political ideologies, social constructs, and gender stereotypes, all against the backdrop of the harsh reality of post-war Japan. The movie is named after the unique confluence of these two factions: the chrysanthemum symbolizing the tradition and femininity embodied by the women sumo wrestlers, and the guillotine representing the rebellious spirit and radical politics of the Guillotine society.

Visually striking, The Chrysanthemum and the Guillotine employs a rich cinematographic language to effectively illustrate its distinct settings and moods. It gives the historically significant Great Kanto Earthquake the dramatic due it deserves, capturing not the earthquake itself but the ripples it caused in Japanese society. The film uses its three-hour-plus runtime to its advantage, slowly unfurling its wide array of characters, their individual conflicts, and their collective struggles.

The script employs a well-structured narrative and is tightly-paced, allowing the viewers to delve deep into the characters' lives, personalities, dilemmas, and struggles. The powerhouse performances of Shun Sugata, Masatoshi Nagase, and Masahiro Higashide, among others, keep the viewers glued to the screen. Their portrayal of nuanced characters, be it marginalized women or the fiery anarchists, fall nothing short of extraordinary.

Overall, The Chrysanthemum and the Guillotine is a richly layered cinematic piece that merges history with culture, politics with romance, and sports with societal norms. It delves into the intriguing dichotomy of the women sumo wrestlers and the Guillotine society, juxtaposing their lives and ideals to paint a vivid picture of a transitioning Japan post the Great Kanto Earthquake. A significant addition to Japanese cinema, this film is a must-watch for those who appreciate nuanced narratives, remarkable performances, and the exploration of historical events through the cinematic lens.