I just finished watching Yoji Yamada's latest film, Kabei Our Mother (2008). This film is absolutely amazing. It is a masterpiece from one of Japan's living treasures. An emotional tour de force with acting that is truly sublime. I give this film a recommendation of the highest order. A must see film.
Set in Tokyo in 1940, the peaceful life of the Nogami Family suddenly changes when the father, Shigeru, is arrested and accused of being a Communist. His wife Kayo works frantically from morning to night to maintain the household and bring up her two daughters with the support of Shigeru�fs sister Hisako and Shigeru�fs ex-student Yamazaki, but her husband does not return. WWII breaks out and casts dark shadows on the entire country, but Kayo still tries to keep her cheerful determination, and sustain the family with her love. This is an emotional drama of a mother and an eternal message for peace.
Not to sound like a broken record, but I have repeatedly written on this thread that imo Yamada Yoji is Japan's greatest living live-action filmmaker. Kabei is yet another superior film made by this talented writer/director, now in his late 70's.
One interesting note is seeing three high profile actors from three different generations who each have very disparate fanbases appearing in this film: Yoshinaga Sayuri, Asano Tadanobu, and Shida Mirai.
Yamada films--whether comedies, dramas, or dramadies--all share similar characteristics: they focus on the working class; they are very much character-driven; they are tributes to the remarkable perseverance of ordinary people; and they elicit strong emotional responses from the audience (it's not unusual for viewers to both laugh and cry during the course of watching the same movie).
Kabei is the kind of movie you'd expect from Yamada, which means it's well worth watching.
Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 46182 Location: Los Skandolous, California Country:
Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 4:03 am Post subject:
shin2 wrote:
Not to sound like a broken record, but I have repeatedly written on this thread that imo Yamada Yoji is Japan's greatest living live-action filmmaker.
Not at all. Your repeated references to explore Yamada's repertoire have definitely been welcome admonitions for me at least in that they have motivated me to see some of the best films I've ever seen, Japanese or otherwise. Thanks for the "education."
Quote:
Kabei is yet another superior film made by this talented writer/director, now in his late 70's.
One interesting note is seeing three high profile actors from three different generations who each have very disparate fanbases appearing in this film: Yoshinaga Sayuri, Asano Tadanobu, and Shida Mirai.
Yamada films--whether comedies, dramas, or dramadies--all share similar characteristics: they focus on the working class; they are very much character-driven; they are tributes to the remarkable perseverance of ordinary people; and they elicit strong emotional responses from the audience (it's not unusual for viewers to both laugh and cry during the course of watching the same movie).
Kabei is the kind of movie you'd expect from Yamada, which means it's well worth watching.
I didn't know anything about it when I started but by about the 5 minute mark I had a smile on my face... and it stayed there to the very end.
No Vroooom!!! no Boooom!. Just an interesting movie with a terrific cast... and obviously well directed and paced because it was a very simply story, and I didn't lose interest at any point in the film. _________________
I didn't know anything about it when I started but by about the 5 minute mark I had a smile on my face... and it stayed there to the very end.
No Vroooom!!! no Boooom!. Just an interesting movie with a terrific cast... and obviously well directed and paced because it was a very simply story, and I didn't lose interest at any point in the film.
That movie was really enjoyable...you're absolutely right the casting was awesome. Joe Odagari was great in that film.
Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Posts: 3125 Location: S.F. Bay Area Country:
Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 8:15 am Post subject:
Tu-Triky
Yeah, Joe's getting really good. And the cast...
Part of the fun of the movie for me was that half the cast from "Jikou Keisatsu" was in it. Both Eri Fuse and Ryo Iwamatsu had small parts. And Kumiko Asou had one of the funniest cameo appreances I've ever seen. They didn't have an actual part for her, so they simply dressed her in her policewoman's uniform, and had her turn and smile into the camera as the two guys walked by.
And along with Kyoko Koizumi, they also featured Yuriko Yoshitaka (Kono-san, Ashita no Kita Yoshio) who is quickly making her way onto my favorites list.
Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 46182 Location: Los Skandolous, California Country:
Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 9:15 am Post subject:
Geezer wrote:
Tu-Triky
Yeah, Joe's getting really good. And the cast...
Part of the fun of the movie for me was that half the cast from "Jikou Keisatsu" was in it. Both Eri Fuse and Ryo Iwamatsu had small parts. And Kumiko Asou had one of the funniest cameo appreances I've ever seen. They didn't have an actual part for her, so they simply dressed her in her policewoman's uniform, and had her turn and smile into the camera as the two guys walked by.
And along with Kyoko Koizumi, they also featured Yuriko Yoshitaka (Kono-san, Ashita no Kita Yoshio) who is quickly making her way onto my favorites list.
Lot's of fun.
Yeah they are a lot of good performances to point to.
Not at all. Your repeated references to explore Yamada's repertoire have definitely been welcome admonitions for me at least in that they have motivated me to see some of the best films I've ever seen, Japanese or otherwise. Thanks for the "education."
Thanks for your kind words. Speaking of Kabei, I just came across this re: Yoshinaga Sayuri, who played Kabei:
it was just okay. not that special and even rather predictable. But it's a beautiful story. I prefer Takeuchi Yuko though, not only is she more entertaining in the eyes, she really did good as a narrator. Sawabitchy's acting wasn't really that good so i guess she was simply being a total ho on the premiere. _________________
Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 12121 Location: It was fun while it lasted. Country:
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 4:22 am Post subject:
Geezer wrote:
Tu-Triky
Yeah, Joe's getting really good. And the cast...
Part of the fun of the movie for me was that half the cast from "Jikou Keisatsu" was in it. Both Eri Fuse and Ryo Iwamatsu had small parts. And Kumiko Asou had one of the funniest cameo appreances I've ever seen. They didn't have an actual part for her, so they simply dressed her in her policewoman's uniform, and had her turn and smile into the camera as the two guys walked by.
And along with Kyoko Koizumi, they also featured Yuriko Yoshitaka (Kono-san, Ashita no Kita Yoshio) who is quickly making her way onto my favorites list.
Lot's of fun.
I agree with everything you said. From the first line,"In my 8th year of college, , ," to the last, "it smells like rubber" This was one of the most fun movies I've seen in a long time. Big thumbs up.
couldn't finish it. it was a bit too slow-y (<- that's not even a word) weird for my taste. some of the parts were funny. i only saw half _________________
I wanted to see it because I think Sato Eriko is a babe.
I wanted to see it because I liked the premise.
(Gorgeous psycho bitch sister returns from Tokyo to abuse and terrorize her family. Little sister escapes into her imagination, using big psycho sis as the main character in a manga she is drawing. It sounded a bit like a dark Thurber story to me, so I was hoping.)
I'm delighted to have seen the movie... but for an all together different reason.
Nagasaku Hiromi.
Nagasaku absolutely stole the entire movie. She's a supporting character, playing the psycho bitch's mousey sister-in-law. And she knocked it so far out of the park the ball is probably still orbiting the planet.
The rest of the movie is quite dull. If I'm going to assign blame, I lay it at the feet of first time director Yoshida (who also wrote the screen play, based on a novel).
Bad timing, lousy pacing for a comedy... especially a dark comedy. So many wasted opportunities. Inept is the word I guess I'm looking for.
And the rest of the cast... well, they simply weren't capable of rising above.
Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 46182 Location: Los Skandolous, California Country:
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 12:14 am Post subject:
I finally saw Kamome Diner. It was a very enjoyable film filled with quite a few subtle, but very funny moments. Satomi Kobayashi is great actress and reaffirmed her status as one of the best among her female peers. Her natural, almost effortless portrayal is honest and real.
The supporting cast members, both Finn and Japanese, are a great addition to this odd, quirky endeavor that is most worthy of praise. Definitely recommended.
A slow but sophisticated explication of cultural metaphors...not for action freaks or those that need high melodrama.
Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 12121 Location: It was fun while it lasted. Country:
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 12:36 am Post subject:
Geezer wrote:
Nagasaku Hiromi.
Nagasaku absolutely stole the entire movie. She's a supporting character, playing the psycho bitch's mousey sister-in-law. And she knocked it so far out of the park the ball is probably still orbiting the planet.
But Nagasaku. Wow!
Geezer, the first time I saw Nagasaku was in the otherwise totally forgettable Rastu Presento. I started watching it because of Yuki Amami, but Nagasaku completely stole the show for me. She also had a guest role in an episode of the first Jikou Keisatsu and did a great job in Koumei ga Tsuji as the evil bitch Yodo. A very underrated actress.
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:58 pm Post subject: Cyborg She
[I don't think any of this should be spoiler since I'm writing it in general terms... but read at your own risk if you plan to watch the movie]
I just watched Cyborg She in Singapore in a cinema. Kind of disappointing considering that the trailer was quite interesting. In my opinion, no real twist in the plot, certain scenes seemed severely exaggerated and parts of the story could have been totally cut without affecting anything at all.
To me, the exaggerated scenes really put me off, and kept me from ANY sense of empathy for the main characters (which is quite weird since I am easily moved). Pity.
The song from MISIA and even the one from HI-FI CAMP was quite nice and catchy though.
Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 46182 Location: Los Skandolous, California Country:
Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 4:30 am Post subject:
I saw Little DJ (2007) the other night. A heartwarming, although tragic film. Not necessarily fresh in terms of story line but the acting was sincere and believable. In particular I enjoyed the performance of the young Umino Tamaki played by Fukuda Mayuko. The young protagonist is played by Kamiki Ryuunosuke who has had quite a prolific acting career despite his young age. Many might recognize him from several TV doramas.
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