DVD Japan Deltamac Region 0 120 minutes Directed by Shohei Imamura Written by Shohei Imamura Daisuke Tengan Motofumi Tomikawa With Koji Yakusho Misa Shimizu Available to Purchase at HKFlix.com 
|
Home | Upcoming | Reviews | In Cinemas | Links | Features | Editorials | Search R E V I E W Warm Water Under a Red Bridge (2001) Shohei Imamura has directed many films in a career that has spanned more than 40 years. His most recent works include The Eel (1997) and Dr. Akagi (1998). The film premiered at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival. After playing the festival circuit, it opened in Japan in November 2001. It played in Hong Kong cinemas earlier this year, and is due for a limited release in the United States in May. MOVIE Plot: Looking for work in Tokyo after he is laid off, Yosuke (Koji Yakusho) learns that an old friend, Taro (Kazuo Kitamura), has died. Taro was a poor yet philosophical man. He once told Yosuke that he had stolen a valuable statue and hidden it in a house by a red bridge in a rural village. Knowing of Yosuke's troubles (he lives apart from his wife, who is not very kind in their telephone conversations), Taro had encouraged the younger man to retrieve the statue and sell it. With Taro's death, and his own financial situation worsening, Yosuke makes the trip. He discovers a quaint fishing village with stereotypically odd characters living there. And he also observes a strange sight: a nice-looking, middle-aged woman shoplifting some cheese in a supermarket, and leaving behind a puddle of water. Fascinated, he follows her, and watches her return to a house by a red bridge. Soon enough, he learns her secret, and also learns much more about himself. Performances: Koji Yakusho has tremendous range as the everyman character Yosuke, with hidden reserves of emotion. Misa Shimuzu is touching as a woman frustrated by men, relationships, and her own body. The rest of the cast gives fine, unshowy performances. Production: Director Imamura keeps his camera at a distance much of the time. While that tends to minimize the emotional intensity, it also allows the viewer to see the characters in the context of their environment. And that's crucial in a tale such as this, which contains several elements that appear to be completely whimsical. By virtue of the serious and contextual presentation, however, such elements can be seen as rarely occuring natural events, rather than pure flights of fancy. The cumulative effect is much greater than I would have anticipated, given the subject matter and story. Though it would have helped to have a deeper understanding of some of the characters, a sufficient number of details are provided to lend weight and interest. A certain amount of humor comes provides comic relief at key points. It helps if the viewer gives the film the benefit of the doubt and embraces a couple of dubious aspects. Rating: Category IIB. Several explicit (though mostly clothed) sexual situations, profanity. DVD Look: Letterboxed presentation features accurately-rendered colors and flesh tones. The source print appeared to be very clean. Sound: Japanese DD 2.0 audio track conveyed the dialogue, music, and sounds adequately. No other audio tracks. Subtitles: White removable English subtitles (with black backing) are easy to read and well timed. Also included are traditional and simplified Chinese subtitles. Features: Trailer, plus director & cast information (director's note about his intent for the film, brief biographies and film listings for the director and two leading players). RECOMMENDATION Buy. Quiet and light fable that is deeper than it initially appears. Home | Upcoming | Reviews | In Cinemas | Links | Features | Editorials | Search |
|