'BOBTAIL' REVIEW / JAPANESE FILMS

Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director (1975)

We sometimes forget that history is statistical approximation of collected experiences. And this process of collection is heavily biased by the political view, cultural understanding or artistic taste of each individual collector. When it comes to the life of a complex man, the collection tends to diverge, then we start to wonder how much of the story is actually reflection of each collector. Welcome to the world of “Citizen Mizoguchi”. This film may be a bit difficult to follow, if you are not familiar with the events described in a series of interviews. For example, it is not clearly laid …

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Isuzu Yamada (1917 – 2012)

Isuzu Yamada, one of the most renowned actresses in Japanese cinema history, passed away on July 9, 2012. She was 95. Her memorable screen performance includes Mizoguchi’s “Osaka Elegy”, Naruse’s “Nagareru” and Kurowsawa’s “Thone of Blood”, to name the few. She started her career in her teens in Nikkatsu and was recognized quickly for superb acting skills. Her portrayal of damaged, rebellious teenage mistress and Geisha in Mizoguchi’s “Osaka Elegy” and “Sisters of the Gion” was breakthrough in prewar Japanese cinema, and boosted both Mizoguchi’s and Yamada’s careers. Before WWII, she was a top star at Toho, starring in many …

 
'BOBTAIL' REVIEW / JAPANESE FILMS

Sakura Tai Chiru (1988)

Kaneto Shindo, one of the prominent filmmaker and writer, passed away on May 29, 2012. He was 100 years old. He was the last to live through the golden age of Japanese cinema and his film career spans over almost 8 decades. He has directed numerous masterpieces such as “The Naked Island” or “Children of Hiroshima“, to name the few. He also engaged in documenting some (Japanese-cinema related) historical events. This documentary is at the crossroad of his interests; it is about the troop of independent film actors and also about tragic event in Hiroshima, Shindo’s hometown. Sakura-tai (Cherry-Blossom Troop) …