- Actors: Ken Uehara, Setsuko Hara, Yukiko Shimaza, Yoko Sugi, Akiko Kazami
- Directors: Mikio Naruse
- Format: Box set, PAL
- Language Japanese
- Subtitles: English
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 3
- Classification: PG
- Studio: Eureka Entertainment
- DVD Release Date: 4 Dec 2006
- Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B000I5XN7O
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 51,620 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
54 of 55 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
First of the Naruse box sets,
By HJ (London UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Naruse: Volume One (Repast / Sound of the Mountain / Flowing) [Masters of Cinema] [DVD] (DVD)
Repast (1951) - a young wife disillusioned by her mundane life of housework has to decide whether to leave her emotionally unresponsive husband.
Sound of the Mountain (1954) - a young wife considers leaving her drunken philandering husband but bonds with her sympathetic father-in-law Flowing (1956) - a diligent woman gets a job as maid in a declining geisha house run by a geisha coming to terms with being past her prime. This is a sumptuous box set with 3 films plus commentaries & a book (& I mean book not booklet) containing essays by authorities like Audie Bock & Catherine Russell. Clearly Masters of Cinema are pulling out all the stops in making a case for Naruse as one of the great auteurs. Indeed each of these films is undeniably brilliant, however I can see why Naruse has previously failed to appeal to Western audiences the way Ozu, Mizoguchi, Kurosawa & co have done. Naruse's subject of post-war everyday family life is similar to Ozu's, but Ozu has a distinctive "formalist" style & "Buddhist" sense of resignation that makes his work seem understated, appealingly Japanese and yet universal. Naruse's films by contrast are more conventional 1950s "women's films", melodramas or whatever term you prefer. In fact Naruse's portrayal of family relationships is probably more complex - and darker - than Ozu's or Mizoguchi's and the position of women is treated in a more subversive manner. Even if you are averse to melodrama, Repast & Sound of the Mountain are extremely accomplished & thought provoking. Flowing is rather different - set in the geisha world it will be appealingly Japanese to many and is an amazing ensemble piece with eight strong women characters in constant interaction - it's sharp, funny and very poignant (this was actually the film of the three that had me in tears at the end!), it's full of subtle touches capturing the flow of the everyday - and of life (hence the title). Flowing is a perfect film & on a par with the best films of Ozu & Mizoguchi and goes a long way to justifying claims that Naruse really is one of the greats and justifying anyone interested in Japanese cinema getting this box set.
2 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting...,
By championcat (UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Naruse: Volume One (Repast / Sound of the Mountain / Flowing) [Masters of Cinema] [DVD] (DVD)
if you are a sinologist, anything japanese is interesting. I wish I came to the dvd set with no expectations whatsoever. but clearly my hopes were set too high. this is no Ozu and no Tokyo Story. most of the stories feels like a precursor to something yet to happen. they are fine stories and interesting. repeatable viewings are probable. Naruse remains an undiscovered gem.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
5.0 out of 5 stars (1 customer review) 3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Films Not Available in the USA,
By William Britton - Published on Amazon.com
Naruse, Mikio: One of the neglected masters of Japanese motion pictures. Unfortunately, the powers that be have seen fit to make only one or two of his films available in DVD in this country. THESE ARE NOT PLAYABLE ON ALMOST ALL USA DVD'S. Be forwarned.
Repast, is the weakest. Verging on melodrama. And I love, Hara, Setsuko. Sound From the Mountain (known various other titles) Is a masterpiece. Setsuko Hara, Ken again and his father, whom Setsuko's character forms a non-erotic loving relationship with when her husband, is unfaithful. (I don't see why.) The ending has some similarities to that of "The Third Man." Flowing is another masterpiece, but one of ensemble acting. Tanaka is the observing presence: as a geisha house, and the traditions that support it, fade and fall away. Subtle without melodrama and tear-jearking. But you may cry anyway. When will the powers that be realize that there is a US market for DVD films of Mikio Naruse? |
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