Floating Weeds (1959)

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Director: Yasujiro Ozu

Writers: Yasujiro Ozu & Kogo Noda, original screenplay by Tadao Ikeda

Stars: Ganjiro Nakamura, Haruko Sugimura, Machiko Kyo, Ayako Wakao, Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Hitomi Nozoe, Chishu Ryu



An itinerant group of kabuki actors travels to a seaside village during a hot summer in the 1950s. 



As the struggling troupe waits for news of their next engagement from their manager, lack of contact from whom suggests that he may have abandoned them, their leader (Ganjiro Nakamura) reconnects with a former mistress (Haruko Sugimura). 



This quiet, contemplative film offers a rich portrayal of Japanese village life.

 


Director Yasujiro Ozu clearly has great affection for this setting and these characters.

 


He is not interested in histrionics or melodrama, but powerful emotions swell within his restrained approach.

 


Little character moments accumulate until, by the end of the film, the entire cast is filled with familiar faces, and we are deeply invested in their stories. 



I love superheroes and big explosions as much as the next guy, but "Floating Weeds" reminds us of how rewarding a quiet story about real people can be.



Spoiler alert!!! Last scene!!















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