Daily Archives: October 1, 2016

The Ballad of Narayama (Narayama bushiko)
Directed by Keisuke Kinoshita
Written by Keisuke Kinoshita from stories by Shichiro Fukazawa
1958/Japan
Shochiku Company
First viewing/Hulu

[box] “I am incapable of conceiving infinity, and yet I do not accept finity. I want this adventure that is the context of my life to go on without end.” ― Simone de Beauvoir, La Vieillesse[/box]

Kinoshita has been hit or miss for me.  This film was a big, big hit.

The story is presented in kabuki style – without the masks but with a sung narration.  It concerns a legendary mountain village where food shortages have resulted in a cruel tradition.  When a person turns 70, s/he is left to die in a mountain top domain of the gods called Narayama.

Orin (the fantastic Kinuyo Tanaka) is about to turn 70 and is happily looking forward to her journey to Narayama.  She cares tenderly for her whole household, arranging her widower son’s marriage to a recent widow and welcoming the arrival warmly into their home.  Her eldest grandson is a total ingrate, however, and openly sings songs mocking his grandmother and wishing for the day of her departure.

We see other traditions of the village, all of which seem to revolve around food.  Reprisals against food thieves are swift and violent.  One old man refuses to go to Narayama and is denied food by his family.  Finally, the day comes when Orin’s son must reluctantly bear his mother to her final resting place.

This story might be too much to take without the distancing effect of the kabuki device. The stylized production still is very moving, largely due to Tanaka’s genius acting at its heart.  Orin’s kindness balances out all the negativity of many of the other characters.  The painted sets and use of color are glorious.  Highly recommended.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpFzm118FWQ

Trailer – no subtitles

Houseboat
Directed by Melville Shavelson
Written by Melville Shavelson and Jack Rose
1958/USA
Paramount Pictures
First viewing/Netflix rental

[box] Robert Winters: Who, Sir? Me, Sir?

Tom Winters: Yes, Sir. You, Sir. [/box]

I was pleasantly surprised by this 50’s rom-com.

Tom Winters’ (Cary Grant) ex-wife has just died leaving their three young children motherless.  The children’s maternal aunt is willing to take the boys but Tom is unwilling to see them be separated.  The children have seen him infrequently though and all are in various stages of mourning for their mother.  Tom tries taking them to his bachelor pad in Washington DC but this is clearly an unworkable situation.  He is in desperate need of a nanny.

Cinzia Zacarrdi (Sophia Loren) is the daughter of an Italian symphony conductor.  He wants to run every aspect of her life.    One night, Cinzia meets up with Robert, the youngest boy, who has run away and bonds with him.  Robert begs his father to hire Cinzia as the new maid.  She finally agrees.

Through a series of misadventures, this menage ends up moving into a dilapidated houseboat in Virginia.  It turns out Cinzia has zero homemaking skills.  Fortunately, she is talented at making a happy family.  The two adults are drawn to each other but the children’s aunt (Martha Heyer) is in love with Tom and threatens to throw a spanner in the works.

I thought this might be a bit too 50’s for my taste but I was entertained all the way through. Loren and Grant’s chemistry carries the movie.  Grant is more of his Mr. Blandings persona than the bon vivant in this.  We get to see Loren jitterbug !  The movie is light and frothy yet there is a bit of depth to the child psychology.

Houseboat was nominated for Academy Awards in the categories of Best Writing, Story and Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen and Best Music, Original Song (“Almost in Your Arms” – Love Theme from Houseboat.

Trailer