Set in a modern Kyoto geisha house, the woman of rumour of the title is Hatsuko, the madame of her own geisha house, who ends up pursuing the same man as her daughter. Both women are forced to confront their attitudes towards each other and the family business.

Mizoguchi’s last collaboration with actress Tanaka Kinuyo, this heartfelt drama from the iconic director is a true gem of period cinema. Portraying a mother-daughter relationship with rare sensitivity, The Woman of Rumor offers a subtle look at the clash between modern and traditional values.