Japanese cinema for beginners Part 2

Yuzo Kawashima. “Bakumatsu taiyôden”, 1957

The film is screenplay by Shohei since the beginning, with whom the Director worked since 1954 at the Studio “Nikkatsu”, along with him before leaving “Seiko”, where they together began a film career. Admittedly, historians of cinema is characterized by the spirit of burlesque and black humor, the film combines new had the potential of traditional Comedy. Speaking about the events on the eve of the Meiji restoration, the Director focuses on a seemingly marginal story, which takes place in the “red light district” in Shinagawa. But it was the gags, jokes, obscenities, the filmmakers reveal the full controversy of the era of change — both historical and relevant time of creation of the film. Starring Frankie Sakai was awarded “Blue ribbon” and “Cinema, zumbo” in the nomination “Best male role” in 1958.

Kon Ichikawa. “Enjō”, 1958

The film is based on the cult novel by Yukio Mishima “Golden temple”, which is based on an incident in 1950 when a young novice had set fire to the famous Golden temple (Kinkakuji) in Kyoto, burned the result to the ground. The first film adaptation of the novel was prepared in cooperation with the writer, which approved the change in the nature of the calling, the compassion of the main character into a frenzy to bow before the pure beauty. Keeping in the spirit of the film adaptation of the novel, the Director develops a particular visual language, brilliantly using a wide image and deep staging.

The film won several Japanese awards in different categories (“Blue ribbon”, “Cinema, Juno”, “Mainichi”), and starring, Raizo Ichikawa was awarded the New Cinema Award for best actor at the Venice film festival (1959).

The Photography By Shindo. “Hadaka no Shima”, 1960

Wordless masterpiece Shindo, after the triumph at the festival, purchased for Soviet rental and become a cult film in the USSR for many years, a peculiar example of the so-called Japanese style. A story about the everyday life of a simple family on a small island without sources of fresh water. After going through the trials and death of his son, a man and a woman from day to day continue to bring on the naked island fresh water to cultivate the land. Music Hikaru Hayashi, accompanying all the action for a long time has become an audible symbol of the film. The big prize in Moscow international film festival (1961).

Nagisa Oshima. “Nihon no Yoru to Kiri”, 1960

Perhaps the most radical experiments in film from the leader of the Japanese “new wave”, as raising political issues, and moral. In the center of the film, beginning with discussions during the wedding ceremony, the controversy about the fate of the left student movement “national student organization of Japan (Zengakuren”), which turns into a story about his own youth Director. The film consists of 47 planes of episodes, in which the camera is always in motion. The title of the film echoes the name of the documentary, Alain Resnais about the Nazi concentration camps, “Night and fog”. Criticism took this job as a “political weapon Oshima” and as “a leaflet, thrown into the crowd by the progressive camp.” The film was shot with a rental Studio “Seiko” — it is possible that as a result of political pressure; this, in turn, forced Oshima to leave the Studio and create your own “Azosa”. Nagisa Oshima was awarded for the film award “Blue ribbon” as the best young filmmaker of Japan (1961).

Tadashi Imai. “Bushido zankoku monogatari”, 1963

The film is about commitment to the samurai code of Bushido of the house of representatives Higura for nearly 400 years — from the era of the Tokugawa until the 60-ies of XX century. A modern descendant of a samurai clan leads his first-person narrative, telling about the seven generations of the family (the role performed by Kinnosuke Nakamura award “Blue ribbon” in 1964, which masterfully reveals to the audience his acting range throughout the film narration). Tracing the fate of the kind Higure, the Director reflects on the nature of loyalty to the overlord and self-sacrifice on the part of the vassals and servants of the mechanisms of retention of the code of conduct of Imperial Japan, since the Meiji era, during the Second world war, and in modern Japan. “Golden bear” at the IFF in Berlin (1963).

Hiroshi Teshigahara. “Suna no Onna”, 1964

Adaptation of the novel by Kobo Abe. In 1950, the fate of Kobo Abe Hiroshi Teshigahara — an outstanding Director, sculptor, calligrapher, and master of the tea ceremony, the son of the founder of the school of ikebana Sogetsu. In conjunction with Segi Shin’ichi and Hiroshi Sekine, they became members of the avant-garde of the creative Association “Seiki” (“Century”). The movie “the Trap” (1962), the script was reworked absurdist play Abe, became the first experience in a feature film for Teshigahara, which since 1953 was shooting experimental films. But the real glory brought both of the novels, the film adaptation of Abe’s “the Woman in the sand” (1964), “Alien face” (1966) and “Burnt map” (1968). A special jury prize at the Cannes IFF (1964). The film was nominated twice for the Oscar (1965, 1966) and received in 1965, several Japanese film awards (Blue ribbon, “Cinema, Juno”, “Mainichi”) in different categories.

Masaki Kobayashi. “Kwaidan”, 1964

A screen adaptation of fantastic four stories from the collection of the traditions of the Japanese Yakumo Koizumi (Lafcadio Hearn). The first color widescreen film, which he based on poly plots creates the sample adaptation of traditions of national Japanese fiction for an international audience, given the experience of Western horror films. The film is almost entirely shot in the pavilion and combines the sophistication of a picture composition with expressive color schemes. It was completely overdubbed after filming and has become a benchmark example of the style of movies about ghosts, so far from the life of the reliability of the previous paintings Kobayashi in the first place from which brought him international fame ambitious of the trilogy, “Destiny of man” (1958-1961). A special jury prize at the IFF in Cannes (1965). The film was nominated for “Oscar” (1966) and received in 1965-1966 Japanese film “Cinema, Juno” and “Mainichi” in different nominations.

Kihachi Okamoto. “Chi to suna”, 1965

The film is based on the novel by Keiichi it, “a Bitter chronicle of the war” and tells about the events that unfolded in the fortress Akiba (China) in the summer of 1945 when the seat of hostilities arrive the young graduates of the music school. One of the best anti-war films of Japan talks about the service and death of young, poorly trained guys to throw the military establishment of the army for the protection of the last frontiers before the surrender. A kind of Japanese equivalent of the German film of Bernhard Vicky “the Bridge” (1959). The story is told in a tragicomic manner, which is typical for the style of anti-war films Okamoto as a whole. One of his best military roles in this film played by Toshiro Mifune (Sergeant Kosugi), an independent Studio which “Mifune about” was filmed. This masterpiece was a huge success and has revitalized the film company, founded in 1963 is an outstanding actor.