I've watched five Naruse's film (including this one) and all of them at the end breaks my heart so hard. With Naruse there is no happiness and maybe thats why It's one of my favorites.
This movie also stars Tatsuya Nakadai, my favorite Japanese actor. He also starred in The Human Condition trilogy directed by Masaki Kobayashi. Bleak stuff.
What are your thoughts on Akira Kurosawa's work? I watched Ran yesterday and I am mesmerized. A true masterpiece (and according to some friends, it's not even his best work)
Post war Japan was one of the most intensely concentrated film and literary epicenters in history. There must be something incredibly affecting about watching your entire culture and way of life fall apart and give way to the new in such a quick time span. I saw this film just browsing through a video store in my neighborhood, and it's been on of my favorites ever since. For directors though, it's tough to beat Yasujiro Ozu.
For people who go to Japan for 2 weeks and come away with 'fairyland' impressions, I suggest seeing this film IF they want to try to see Japanese culture! I lived there for 16 years and arrived at 35. I know the omizu shobai world as well. It is a torturous place to be a woman. Women over 35 become basically invisible. The double standard is beyond anyone's conception of what it really is and how ugly it really is.
Utterly magnificent film, any praise I vomit just feels like an understatement. Another film by Yang, yi yi, is also amazing but ABSD is in another level. Highly recommend too
Just finished the book of monelle and right now all i know was that it was powerful the rest is trapped inside some sorrowful nebulous French cloud but you review the best books never stop doing this man had to say this even though its a film review
I'm just curious. Are you familiar with the anime Cowboy Bebop ? If not then do try watching it sometime because its something you may watch as a kid before but you revisit it years later and it still sings to you. The jazz blues music by Yoko Kanno really is still one of the very best soundtracks in a movie or a series ever. And also have you ever tried viewing mature anime in general ? Like Monster or Made in Abyss ?
If you like Naruse, I think you should check out Hirokazu Koreeda. He reminds me of Naruse while combining some other qualities that can be perceived in Ozu for example. If anything, check out Still Walking and Nobody Knows by him. As for this movie, I like the natural flow of the drama, although it can get a bit bugged down by multiple very dramatic points occurring one after the other for example in the later part of the movie when Nakadai arrives after Mama slept with her lover. Its also interesting how Tatsuya Nakadai can play an understated roll so well, nonetheless I still prefer it when he takes centre stage in movies such as The Human Condition or Harakiri, and I don't mean to undermine Hideko Takamine's performance by all means. The writing is very good in this movie. Its interesting how Mama's inaction--caused by her being too prideful in some instances while in others being too naive--is her downfall. She is a very well rounded character that is neither a victim of our sympathy nor the culprit of our apathy. As for the cinematography and music, it's solid; I wouldn't say that both are detriments or essential positives to the movie, but both are serviceable to the goal of the movie.
have you ever considering reading Gravitys Rainbow or any of the other works by Thomas Pynchon? Tho his style is considering really difficult and time-consuming, it’s really no more difficult than some of the other convoluted and intricate reads you’ve tackled like Swanns Way and 2666, please consider Gravitys Rainbow, it’s right up your twisted alley
If you made 1 feature film, every year from the day you were born, then quit at aged 80... you would have made the same number of films as Mikio Naruse. And not be known as a filmmaker during your lfietime. Insane indeed.
Great book review and recommendation deffo. How blatantly toxic, sassy and obnoxious the reviewer though or maybe just not my brand of charismatic you know what I mean
I've watched five Naruse's film (including this one) and all of them at the end breaks my heart so hard. With Naruse there is no happiness and maybe thats why It's one of my favorites.
This movie also stars Tatsuya Nakadai, my favorite Japanese actor. He also starred in The Human Condition trilogy directed by Masaki Kobayashi. Bleak stuff.
This one has been on my list for a while. Need to finally check it out. Love the film reviews! Keep em coming.
Scattered clouds (midaregumo)
is absolutely heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. It’s his last film! You should watch it!
What are your thoughts on Akira Kurosawa's work? I watched Ran yesterday and I am mesmerized. A true masterpiece (and according to some friends, it's not even his best work)
Leonardo Estrela If you want to get into Kurosawa you need to watch Seven Samurai if you haven’t already
This is such a beautiful review, keep sharing xo
you should check out Tom Ford's movies, A Single Man and Nocturnal Animals - they are aesthetically perfect and really capture melancholy
Ford is incredibly underrated as a director. Nocturnal Animals was one of the most exciting works of direction in recent American cinema.
I found Nocturnal Animals disappointing. I really wanted to like it.
@@jackdomanski6758 Oh really? That's too bad! Was it the entire film, or the third act?
Post war Japan was one of the most intensely concentrated film and literary epicenters in history. There must be something incredibly affecting about watching your entire culture and way of life fall apart and give way to the new in such a quick time span. I saw this film just browsing through a video store in my neighborhood, and it's been on of my favorites ever since. For directors though, it's tough to beat Yasujiro Ozu.
For people who go to Japan for 2 weeks and come away with 'fairyland' impressions, I suggest seeing this film IF they want to try to see Japanese culture! I lived there for 16 years and arrived at 35. I know the omizu shobai world as well. It is a torturous place to be a woman. Women over 35 become basically invisible. The double standard is beyond anyone's conception of what it really is and how ugly it really is.
Thanks for posting your perspective. I'm sorry for your experience. I wish you well.
Great review. Interested in your opinions on other Japanese films from this era.
You should watch A Brighter Summer Day by Edward Yang.
Utterly magnificent film, any praise I vomit just feels like an understatement. Another film by Yang, yi yi, is also amazing but ABSD is in another level. Highly recommend too
I'll throw an additional vote towards Brighter Summer Day! An absolute experience!
My take based on this review: Realizing one's own mortality. Beautifully done, Cliff.
Harold and Maude...good example of a woman with "eternal fire" 🔥...
Love that film. But maybe my favorite by Naruse is still the underrated "Mother" (Okaasan, 1952).
Can not agree more. Mother, for me, is Naruse’s masterpiece.
Watched it last night it blew my mind!!
The way you describe the tone and pace really reminds me of Jim Jarmush's Only Lovers Left Alive. Opinions on that movie?
Just finished the book of monelle and right now all i know was that it was powerful the rest is trapped inside some sorrowful nebulous French cloud but you review the best books never stop doing this man had to say this even though its a film review
Just watched this film. I'm broken. My heart is heavy. What a dark, terrible, pessimistic masterpiece!
Review Fanged Noumena, I see you have it on your shelf
That is a very Green tea🍵
background looks nice btw with that shelf
Cliff you should check out Amy Yamada's writing. Fairly sure you would enjoy it.
Yasujiro Ozu
If u or know of someone who can upload this full movie with eng subs I'd appreciate it
Did you say this was Naruse's last film? It is not.
I'm just curious. Are you familiar with the anime Cowboy Bebop ?
If not then do try watching it sometime because its something you may watch as a kid before but you revisit it years later and it still sings to you. The jazz blues music by Yoko Kanno really is still one of the very best soundtracks in a movie or a series ever. And also have you ever tried viewing mature anime in general ? Like Monster or Made in Abyss ?
If you like Naruse, I think you should check out Hirokazu Koreeda. He reminds me of Naruse while combining some other qualities that can be perceived in Ozu for example. If anything, check out Still Walking and Nobody Knows by him. As for this movie, I like the natural flow of the drama, although it can get a bit bugged down by multiple very dramatic points occurring one after the other for example in the later part of the movie when Nakadai arrives after Mama slept with her lover. Its also interesting how Tatsuya Nakadai can play an understated roll so well, nonetheless I still prefer it when he takes centre stage in movies such as The Human Condition or Harakiri, and I don't mean to undermine Hideko Takamine's performance by all means. The writing is very good in this movie. Its interesting how Mama's inaction--caused by her being too prideful in some instances while in others being too naive--is her downfall. She is a very well rounded character that is neither a victim of our sympathy nor the culprit of our apathy. As for the cinematography and music, it's solid; I wouldn't say that both are detriments or essential positives to the movie, but both are serviceable to the goal of the movie.
Do Synecdoche, New York!
I would deeply appreciate if you would do a review on one of Walter Benjamin's books
Oh
Nice looking fukamushi (deep steamed) sencha.
have you ever considering reading Gravitys Rainbow or any of the other works by Thomas Pynchon? Tho his style is considering really difficult and time-consuming, it’s really no more difficult than some of the other convoluted and intricate reads you’ve tackled like Swanns Way and 2666, please consider Gravitys Rainbow, it’s right up your twisted alley
If you made 1 feature film, every year from the day you were born, then quit at aged 80... you would have made the same number of films as Mikio Naruse. And not be known as a filmmaker during your lfietime. Insane indeed.
Great book review and recommendation deffo. How blatantly toxic, sassy and obnoxious the reviewer though or maybe just not my brand of charismatic you know what I mean