1This review may contain spoilers
"Everyone has a weakness. Even a hero."
During WWII and after Ozu's first military tour he filmed The Brothers and Sisters of the Toda Family. Ozu ran afoul of censors concerned that he didn't mention the war in a wartime film, but his emphasis on filial piety and the need to take care of aged parents smoothed things over. His biggest concession was sending the youngest son to China to work in the land of opportunity. Pretty sure the Chinese did not think of the Japanese in their homeland the same way but I will try to look at the merits of the film aside from that disconcerting historical context.The Toda patriarch suddenly dies in his mansion after a big family birthday party. The adult children are shocked to discover that the wealthy businessman was nearly bankrupt. After everything but a worthless villa near the ocean is sold off to pay his debt, the mother and youngest daughter, Setsuko, are left homeless. The eldest son takes responsibility allowing the two women, plus the old family maid, to come live with his family. The youngest son, Shojiro, decides to seek his fortune and prove to his father that he is capable and scurries off to China to make his fortune. The eldest son's wife treats his mother and sister like unwelcome guests no matter how unobtrusive they try to be.
On they move to the eldest daughter's house. She immediately bristles because her son loves his grandmother so much that she feels she will lose authority in the house. When Setsuko wants to find a job as she and her mother are penniless, the family puts their foot down. They would be embarrassed for her to be a clerk. More embarrassed than their father bankrupting himself? Mother, daughter, and devoted servant end up finding shelter in the deteriorating villa.
For the one-year anniversary of the patriarch's death, Shojiro makes his way home. At a formal remembrance dinner, he calls the family out on the carpet for treating their mother so shabbily, leaving no one unscathed. "Children should be kind and warm to their mother…You talk without doing anything." The chastised family members abandon the expensive dinner with only the small trio and son left in the room to enjoy the meal in peace. Shojiro believes the truth-filled disruption may bring more harmony and better siblings in the future. Though the women seem to be happy living by the sea, Shojiro insists they come to live in China with him. Given the times, they had little choice but to pack their bags again, at least Shojiro wanted them to be near him.
Ozu had asked for more money to film this movie. The studio responded by giving him less time to film and wanting to see the finished project before increasing his salary. The Toda Family went on to be quite successful partly because of Ozu's skill but also because of the famous stars Saburi Shin as the youngest son Shojiro and Takamine Mieko as the youngest daughter Setsuko. Ozu had largely solidified his style for this film---the low angle shots, meticulously composed frames, lingering shots over geometric rooms and objects (often the father's plants and bird), and more of face straight on to camera shots. Ozu was more concerned with story than acting, and felt that excessive drama was not needed for an audience to be emotionally touched, a method he sought to convey here.
As he would with other films, the disintegration of the family and traditional values were beginning to show. And as in Tokyo Story, a parent was treated as an inconvenience. After recently watching Kurosawa's Ran (based on King Lear), I was reminded of Hidetora finding no welcome mat rolled out by two of his sons when he was homeless. Shojiro, like Saburo, became the prodigal son who lovingly welcomed the parent, albeit with a happier ending.
The film reflected Ozu's life in some ways. After his father's death he took both his mother and a younger brother in. At the end of the film, a bashful Shojiro literally ran away to hide at the beach before a matchmaking date. "Everyone has a weakness. Even a hero." Ozu was a lifelong bachelor who lived with his mother until she died. A parent's aloneness after a death or a child marrying often played into his stories.
Ozu also tackled class distinctions. When Setsuko and her friend Tokiko met for lunch, Setsuko discussed wanting to find a job. Tokiko informed her that taking orders is much different from giving orders and would be difficult for someone who had never been exposed to that way of life. Shojiro told Setsuko that in China no one would look down upon her for working or doing whatever she wanted. The privileged upper class was seen in lower regard, especially in the disregard they had for the elderly and servants and traditional values.
After watching a number of Ozu's silent films which portrayed a looser filming style it was interesting to see that famous Ozu formula begin to firmly coalesce in the The Brothers and Sisters of the Toda Family. Despite being over 80 years old the film remains timely. Children still argue over who is going to take care of an aging parent. People still focus on their own lives forgetting there are others in need of love, acceptance, and something as basic as shelter. Thankfully, there also people who will open their hearts and homes to those in need, especially for a beloved parent. The lack of color did not take away from the beauty of Ozu's meditative and architectural shots, he always knew how to use light and shadow to his advantage. A timely story, well-acted, and skillfully filmed made for an entertaining film.
7/20/23
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Toxic love anyone?
I want to start by saying, THANK god there are TWO endings to this! Watch the happy ending, skip the sad ending. I watched both and chose the happy ending because the other one seemed like a cheap finish. Or even just a shock value finish. The happy ending was much more fitting to the storyline.I really liked the idea behind this movie, the master and servant, but it was lacking a bit for what I wished it would have had. I did really feel for our main character Shu Nian, he had every reason to be confused and untrusting. I really enjoyed Xie Yan's crazy possessive passion, but I felt like it was a little lacking. He went wild a few times but he didn't really try to show Nian how he felt in a way Nian could have believed. For a bit there I thought Xie Yan would lock Nian up for awhile, and THAT would have been a twist I would have loved to watch. Keep him captive until he believes your feelings Xie Yan! Sorry, my dark side is coming out. But hey, this is a toxic movie so we're all here for our own reasons.
Overall a good watch, an interesting relationship, and it made me feel.
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A food healing trip
I finally watched this movie a few years later and it was so good.Even though it was sometimes slow paced but in my opinion, it brought some peaceful feelings and beautiful views on cities and landscapes. It was quite interesting to see two different cultures by bringing local food, not only it was mouthwatering thanks to some dishes but also moving with historical elements between 2 countries and I didn't know about it so it educated me on this part.
I think I love everything in this movie such as the performances of the actors which I didn't know nor watch them in any other movies, the story and step by step discovering / learning with the main character the background of his parents but also his mother and her family. In addition, I myself love food and it's also important to me so I related to it, I feel connected somehow that's why I give a high rating.
It was seriously such a beautiful, heartwarming, healing, moving and comforting movie.
Lastly, thanks to this movie, I want to watch more of the director Eric Khoo but also want to check other projects of other actors, especially Takumi Saitoh's.
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LOVE IN ANY KIND! ♥️
What a unique storyline out of all the BL I ever watched... What a nice and eye opening movie raising awareness with people with hearing kinds of disabilities. Such a wonderful story showing us how to handle those kind of situation regardless of incapabilities of a person. Teaching us how to show compassion and how to show love in all kinds of way. 1hr is not enough. I was just hoping that they will revive this and make a SEASON 2! This deserve all the recognition and hype at this Era! 🙌♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️Was this review helpful to you?
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the title did it justice they really were soulmates
i really liked this movie, it was a tearjerker and i have to say that i enjoyed it. ofc if i could imagine an ideal ending I'd be the two female leads getting married and living the rest of their lives happily together (ik they we're just friends I'm just being delulu cause they had great chemistry). however i feel that if this movie had a happy ending it wouldn't be as meaningful and it could kinda ruin it. the cast was great the story line was amazing and not too complicated the only thing i didn't notice was the music cause i was too invested in the story and while i was processing everything that was happening i didn't really think about the music (in the emotional scenes i was bawling my eyes out so i couldn't hear it) and regarding its rewatch value i think i will wait for some time to pass by so that i can forget about the details of the movie and when I'm in a mood that i want too cry I'll come back too rewatch it.Was this review helpful to you?
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I would give this a zero...
I find it disgusting how he changes ages. One day he can wake up as a child and the next an older man. That would imply that she is also loving the child. That is pedophilic. Others would disagree, but I actually find it creepy how he is changing ages. In no way is this relationship realistic, and although there are fantasy love stories, they are in some ways based in reality. This is not the case, he is changing ages. Others might say "his soul is that of a man her age" he is still that one day a child. In the end, I found it disturbing, and a lot of sensible people would agree with that.Was this review helpful to you?
Real Love Life Reflection of Long-Distance Couples
This movie is underrated. The story is really good and realistic. It reflects the real love life of long-distance couple. The chemistry between the leads is insane. The female lead's character is much relatable to normal female youths, while the male lead gives audience's heart butterflies. As for music, it fits well to the movie although it's not the kind of a really addictive song. I am already re-watching it now because I can't get over from the male lead. I will not provide long review to avoid spoiler.For those who like youth's love life and heart butterfly, please go for it.
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Back to The Lizard. Yueh Hua played the titular role AKA Cheng Long/Brother Dumb. Cheng Long was a stuttering and bumbling police officer by day and a skilled martial artist and jewel thief who robbed wealthy foreigners by night always leaving behind a lizard calling card. Connie's Xiao Ju was close friends with the bumbler and an admirer of the masked hero. Lo Lieh played the corrupt Chief Chen who used his position to fleece the locals at his rigged casino and make connections with the wealthy foreigners. The Lizard runs afoul of Chen and the game is on, with the odds against the Robin Hood of the people.
A few years prior, Connie might well have played the Lizard, but Hong Kong martial arts movies were headed in a decidedly more machismo and bloodier direction by 1972, mostly leaving behind the glorious heroines of the 1960's. Connie, Josephine Siao and Cheng Pei Pei could probably have compared notes. Yueh Hua wasn't as stone-faced as he appeared in many of his martial arts roles, but still wasn't particularly convincing as the burglar who could climb walls like a lizard. Jewel thieves, historically, are played by charismatic actors, something Yueh was missing. Lo Lieh who had often portrayed good guys before Lizard was to play one of his early villain roles, something he would be typecast as for much of the rest of his career. Dapper and sinister in his white suit, maybe he and Yueh should have swapped roles, he would have made for an entertaining jewel thief. Chen's army of casino thugs boasted many familiar stunt men who were fun to pick out, including Yuen Woo Ping.
Yuen Woo Ping was the martial arts director along with Yuen Cheung Yan. Woo Ping would go on to work as a director, action director, and/or martial arts director for movies far more famous than this one, i.e., Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Kung Fu Hustle. The action scenes for the most part were well choreographed, especially for actors with limited martial arts abilities. The stunt men worked overtime flying high and falling hard to sell the action. The sets were opulent, showing off the wealth of the corrupt officials and foreign occupants. But fear not, there were still tear away sets for the characters who would rather crash through a door than open it and windows that gave way when the bodies started flying.
The movie tried to sell comedy along with the action, missing more than they hit. They needed organic comedy rather than Lydia Shum crossing her eyes in several scenes for laughs. Not only was there comedy but there was also pathos as a couple of loveable supporting characters did not live to see the closing credits. Fair warning, there was gratuitous nudity in the opening scene, a sex scene that seemed to go on forever featuring an overly made-up blonde woman.
I suppose I wrote more about the cast and crew than the story because the film should have been better and more exciting. The Lizard could have been a stylish and taut thriller if so many opportunities hadn't been missed. Too often, the momentum stalled and the story lumbered along. Connie may not have been the most skilled fighter, but she added enthusiasm to every scene she was in which were far too few. The Lizard wasn't a bad 1972 kung fu movie, and certainly was one of the most beautiful SB films in terms of aesthetics, somehow, I just didn't find it enthralling even though I desperately wanted to. Having said that, for old kung fu movie enthusiasts, I could easily recommend giving this one a try, especially if for some of us, it's the only chance to watch The Movie Fan Princess (1966) in action.
7/19/23
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Moneyboys with money but no longer boys
My thoughts about the main three characters:Fei: He was new to the work; Max helped him. In the process, they fell in love. I don't blame Fei for running, he didn't ask Max to beat him up. I would flee too if the police were looking for me. Then he fell for Long. Long is the innocence he lost. He is everything he could never be, so at first he tried to resist him. Even hate him, I guess. But Long broke through his wall. When Max came back, it wasn't love but guilt he was feeling. He is doing everything out of guilt, which is holding him back. He will never be truly happy in life, and he knows it. The only thing he can do is remember the time with Long.
Max: The perfect moneyboy who fell for Fei and let his emotion control him. If he had planned it, he could get away without messing up everything. I'm sure he regrets losing Fei for this. Him getting married and having 3 babies shows how he is doing. I am not saying anything about his sexual preference, he can be bi, pan, or just gay. But he does not love his wife. He still loves Fei, but it won't be fair to him if Fei stays with him out of guilt, and he knows this.
Long: Long is like a free bird. I feel like he is the type of character who is pure innocence. He will never be corrupt. He will show you his raw emotions. But you cannot keep him in a cage. He will fly. I felt like Long liked Fei even before he left the village. He went to find him in two cities. But he is not willing to be someone's second choice. That's why he left.
Max's wife is ...creepy.
Having an open ending is sometimes to bad. You can only imagine the choices they would make. Will Long return? Will Fei go to find Long? Or will Max and Fei get together? We can only guess.
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Misplaced Connection ?……
You have to accept the fact that you’re the villain in someone else’s story!The storyline was okay. Wasn’t to bad and had some droplets of comedy here and there. Overall most moments were flabbergasting.
Mae (FL): she had a serious case on internalized victimization, self loathing, selfishness and obsessive behavior. Everything centered around her and how she felt. Everyon was in the wrong and to blame. That was some toxic a** behavior. At first I was confused seeing her ex always appear till I realized she’s holding on to his memory. That “missed connection” she was experiencing with Norman (ML) was all fabricated in her head. The guy literally told her he wasn’t interested. But she heard, “Yes you have a chance.” You’d thing after she saw him with the girl at the bar she’d take a hint or two and leave it be. One of the most toxic things she did I hated was her fixating on ML and then go to every length to be with him. Because in her sick head she was perfect for him. Her issue was she needed to love herself and stop trying to find that validation in guys. Like her aunt said, “forcing things hurts more than leaving them alone.”
Norman(ML): I believe he should’ve not befriended her and set some clear cut boundaries. FL (Mae) kept pushing the limit cause although he said he wasn’t interested his behavior and things he did made her delulu behind think there’s hope.
Her coming to a realization that loving herself and be okay with being single was perfectly fine was my favorite part. Wish it had happened sooner tho. Seeing her delete that dumb app and making amends with her ex was great.
Overall if you’re looking for a fuller movie to watch you can watch this. I fairly enjoyed it and found it okay to sit through. Regardless of my rating for it, the show is alright
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The window of opportunity has opened
Reign of Assassins is a good old-fashioned wuxia. Though lacking the artistic flair of Ang Lee and Zhang Yi Mou, it had more than enough exciting sword action and compelling acting to set it well above average. With assassins around every corner, hidden identities, and a little romance thrown in, ROA delivered.Very minor spoilers:
The Dark Stone gang murders an official and his son in order to possess the remains of legendary monk Bodhi which are rumored to make the one in possession of them the ruler of the martial world as well as the source to miraculous healing. One of the assassins, Shi Yu, escapes with the remains and goes on the run with most of the assassin world searching for her. A soon to be monk named Wisdom helps her hide and they fall in love. He also gives her valuable information about the weaknesses of her Water Shedding sword technique. From her experience with him, she determines to turn over a new leaf. She visits Dr. Li who gives her a new face and identity. The freshly named Zeng Jing sets up a shop in town and soon falls in love with the local courier, Jiang Ah Sheng. He's a kind-hearted, clumsy, gentle man who seemingly couldn't hurt a fly. But the course of true love never runs smoothly and soon The Dark Stone gang and other contenders for the remains arrive in town when her secret identity is revealed.
This film might not have worked as well if Michelle Yeoh had not played Zeng Jing. She gave a complexity to the role that made her magnetic to watch. She and Jung Woo Sung had nice chemistry together and made for a believable couple. The Dark Stone gang was comprised of an eclectic group of killers. The Wheel King wore an obvious fake moustache and had personal reasons for wanting the remains. There was also an older assassin who was a magician, an assassin who used darts and had a loving wife at home, and a promiscuous and blood lusting new recruit who had murdered her fiancé and his family. Director Su Chao Pin took his time developing the characters and their complicated relationships which gave greater stakes to the fights and more fire to the vengeful surprises as they unfolded.
The fight choreography was creative and highly entertaining. Swords tore through the air so quickly, the action could be hard to follow. Wire-fu was used without making it the focal point and there were no Matrix slow-motion moves too often overused in films. Michelle Yeoh as always convincingly displayed a graceful dexterity with weapons and a dancer's flexibility with her kung fu moves. Korean actor, Jung Woo Sung acquitted himself well when it came his time to participate in the action.
This film embodied the important aspects of a good wuxia-revenge, quality fights, a little romance, and a satisfying redemption arch. Most of all, Reign of Assassins featured a captivating female swordswoman who evolved as a character and was allowed to fight her own battles. Michelle Yeoh once again demonstrated why she is the queen of martial arts movies.
7/19/23
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Is not for everyone
It is a good story but it is not for everyone so if you do not enjoy mature content including BDSM, sexual abuse, kidnapping, torture, etc., then you might wanna skip it. However, if you are into this type of content then this movie is a MUST!The beginning can be a bit overwhelming or confusing for those who are not familiar with BL content, but if you can get past the first 10 minutes, then you can engage with the plot and it can be very enjoyable.
It explores themes like depression, suicide, expectations, grief, etc., so it is not just another BDSM movie, even if it contains graphic content, it is still censored and is not uncomfortable to watch.
The actors have good chemistry and they did a good job conveying their characters' emotions and it helps to keep you interested in the plot.
Now let's talk about what I didn't like about it:
1. Sometimes I felt like I was watching a horror movie and THAT whistle (yall who have seen it know what I'm talking about) did not help at all, but that is just a very personal detail that I couldn't let go of.
2. The music goes completely unnoticed, there is nothing to highlight in this area.
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Novoland: The Castle in the Sky - Time Reversal
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Didn't fit as a movie
With this movie, viewers gets to understand Feng Ren better. The back and forth in time made this movie chaotic. If you are not sidetracked by the mediocre acting of the Wang Yu Wen, close attention is necessary and you should have watched the previous Noviland series to have a good grasp of the story.I still have to find a series or movie with a role that will make me like Wang Yu Wen as an actress. I don't know what it is but her face is not jiving with the role. Her facial expression however minimal makes it look too much.
Zhong Dan Ni did really well in that character.
If this was turned into a series, maybe it would have come out better.
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It was a good movie however, it's clear it was only meant to set the stage for part 3.
When this was initially released, I tried to watch it. But for some reason, I couldn't seem to follow the story and it honestly felt boring without KJY. However, after watching the movie Midnight (10/10, I recommend checking it out) I came across part 1 on PrimeVideo. I thought it would be the perfect chance to attempt part 2 again so I jumped at the opportunity . I have to say, it made a world of a difference.The critiques of other reviewers definitely hold true, part 2 falls flat when compared to the first movie. This might in part be due to my own confusion over the beginning of the movie as well as the constant introduction to and switching between of new characters. Although they were choreographed well and were further enhanced by cgi, the fight scenes (which were a huge reason why I appreciated part 1) seemed less like action sequences and more like stages to meant to present and differentiate the level of power each generation possesses. I also saw others commenting on how boring the mc's character was and while I cannot deny that this characterization is incredibly common for heroines, I think the only body of work this movie should be compared to is part 1. For anyone who chooses to watch this movie, I implore you not to compare the mc to anyone other than Kim Dami's character in part 1 and the other second-generation super-humans. Please remember, we have no information on the girls's upbringing, her being a "blank slate" (as others have referred to her as) is done deliberately as we have no background on how she was groomed by the researchers and now have crucial information on the second generation that we did not get in part 1. However, much like Kim Dami's character in part 1, the mc is presented differently than others of her generation and it is done to an even greater extent for a reason— one that I hope we all come to learn of and appreciate upon the release of part 3.
I think a lot of people went into this thinking that we would be focused on Kim Dami's character, this not being the case made it difficult to appreciate this movie for what it was: an opportunity for world building. While there is still much to be revealed, not only were we given a glimpse of the first generation, who by the way were only mentioned once (I can't quite recall) in part 1, we also got more information on the origins of the second generation as well as what separates them from their predecessors. If you found yourself wanting to learn more about the super-humans, Kim Dami's character, and why she was so much stronger than the others while watching part 1, then this is definitely something to check out. If not, then please take what I've said in mind and just have a bit of patience. Also, remember that as usual any acting done in english will leave you questioning your sanity.
SPOILERS AHEAD
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With that being said, I think that there are two main groups of super-humans. Both of which were introduced in part 1. My understanding may not be entirely accurate as I can only work with the information we've been given in each part. Despite our love for it, I think we all know that part 1 didn't give us much beyond KJY's story and whatever vague information we got from the conversations of Dr Baek and other individuals involved with the company and its experiments. Moreover, part 1 failed to give any really understanding of the second generation's powers beyond their violent nature and speed. To add on, the telekinesis and healing abilities we witnessed were minuscule in comparison to what was presented in part 2. This may be due to an increased budget after the success of part 1 or simply the Chinese group belonging to whole other category altogether but I honestly would not know.
I believe the Chinese group hired by KJY in part 2 is of the same generation as Choi Wooshik's character in part 1. Although we weren't able to see extensive fight scenes between super-humans in part 1, their violent nature which is what categorized them as monsters by others involved in the company remains true in part 2. As for Lee JongSuk's group, as well JH's group (Seo Eunsoo's character) and the agents tailing them, they are all apart of the first generation. While their cognitive and fighting abilities are strong, their healing abilities are incredibly weak in comparison and their speed seems to fall behind what was shown by the Chinese group. As for KJY and ADP/the girl, while they may be a part of the second generation, they are much stronger than their counterparts. This is most likely because their mother was actually pregnant with them because aside from their strength, the only difference given between them and others belonging to their generation is that their mother (the girl shown in the beginning) carried them in her womb.
The beginning of part 2 reveals that their mother was used to create their entire generation. And when she was kidnapped by Jo Minsoo's characters (Dr Baek and her sister) she was already pregnant with whom I presume to be ADP. This can easily be deduced based on the fact that KJY said their mother only ever "reached out" to ADP. In addition, while KJY relies on the injectable serums to use her powers in their entirety (much like others of their generation), ADP does not have the same weakness. As they were both carried by their mother, the only likely reason for this difference in strength would be ADP being the first twin and KJY being the implanted one. Which, is also why until part 3 releases, I believe that ADP is stronger than KJY. Most likely, KJY's birth not being 'naturally' occurring makes her weaker than her sister. While its possible this weakness stems from her need for the serum, it could also be that her abilities are simply weaker than ADP's. However, until each aspect of KJY's powers are presented in the same manner as her sisters and she finds the "permanent" solution to her need for serums, I will continue to hold this belief.
And on the subject of KJY and ADP's mother, there is a strong possibility that she was also a part of some experimentation or screening and was either released or managed to escape much like ADP and KJY. This likely led to Dr Baek and her sister's desire for her DNA and her subsequent kidnapping. I think part 3 will likely include tidbits (maybe even more than that) surrounding her story and I honestly hope to learn more about her.
I look forward to the eventual release of part 3. I hope the pacing is a little better and that I don't get whiplash trying to follow any new characters. I plan to do the same next time and watch parts 1 and 2 before starting part 3 so I can refamiliarize myself with the story once again. It probably won't be released until 2024 or 2025 and I don't plan to religiously follow updates or information regarding its release, but I do think I'll find news of its release as a happy surprise.
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Kurosawa WWII propaganda film
In 1944 Kurosawa Akira made The Most Beautiful, a propaganda movie about women volunteering to make lenses used in the war machine. Heavily censored and primarily to boost morale, as most wartime propaganda films were/are, Kurosawa chose to show not only the commitment of the women involved but also the sacrifices they made with their families and their health.Director Watanabe, a young woman who calibrates lenses at the Hiratsuka factory, works with management and with the workers. When the women are given the order to increase production by 50% over the next four months, they are offended because the men were ordered to increase theirs by 100%. Watanabe convinces the company that the women can increase production by 67%. As the women boost their efforts, they are also called upon to create a drum and fife corp. Everyday they march down the street outside the factory. When production decreases they are told to do something fun and begin playing volleyball in their free time. As days drag on, fatigue begins to wear on their bodies and minds. Illnesses, a broken leg, and bickering take place. Despite the setbacks, all of the women who recover cheerfully return to once again do their part for the war effort. Watanabe sees their responsibility as critical to the men fighting, how even one defective lens could mean a man's death, and the man's death could lead to a loss for the military. Follows the old story "For want of a nail the shoe was lost, for want of a shoe the rider was lost…" She goes to obsessive lengths to make sure a lost uncalibrated lens is found. Even when a parent dies and the company says Watanabe should go home, she refuses, determined to continue the mission, grieving silently to herself later.
There were many propaganda signs hanging about. "Follow the example of the war dead." "Follow the example of Yamamoto." "Troops are in the enemy's sights." And the main director's advocation of "One can't improve productivity without improving one's character," was quoted often. Aside from the factory being populated by women, the "men" who also worked there in the ranks looked like boys. The management was made up of middle-aged men, but the workers seemed quite young.
Irie Takako played what amounted to a house mother, but a woman the young women admired and listened to. Yaguchi Yoko as Watanabe was the heart of the story as she struggled to motivate the women in her charge to work harder and also managed their personal problems and illnesses. Yaguchi would marry Kurosawa the next year. Shimura Takashi had a glorified guest role at the beginning of the film as the director of the factory. All of the supporting management characters were overly benevolent and compassionate as if to tell people it would be safe to send your daughters to work and live in these facilities.
Kurosawa was able to make a film as much about the dedication of the young women and the toll the work took on their bodies and minds as he did about their role benefiting the military and the country. At 85 minutes it felt much longer as there was only so much I could watch of people manufacturing lenses and hearing propaganda. The historical aspect of it was interesting but as a piece of art, not so much, though Kurosawa did what he could. If you're interested in old propaganda films or are a Kurosawa completionist, I fall into the latter category, it's worth checking out. Otherwise, it might be best to skip to One Wonderful Sunday or Drunken Angel.
7/18/23
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