IMDb RATING
7.7/10
3.5K
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A kabuki actor's mistress hatches a jealous plot to bring down her lover's son.A kabuki actor's mistress hatches a jealous plot to bring down her lover's son.A kabuki actor's mistress hatches a jealous plot to bring down her lover's son.
- Awards
- 1 win
Kôji Mitsui
- Shinkichi
- (as Hideo Mitsui)
Emiko Yagumo
- Otaka
- (as Rieko Yagumo)
Chishû Ryû
- Shouting audience member
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe long thin pipes with the tiny bowls that are seen throughout the film are Kiseru, introduced long ago into high society, such as Buddhist priests, wealthy merchants and samurai. Kiseru were status symbols and sometimes took on intricate designs made from precious metals. Their use was the primary way to smoke tobacco prior to the popularity of cigarettes in the mid-1800s, but continued in use to maintain culture. The characters in the film are often seen turning the Kiseru upside-down and banging them over the rim of a container, which was the way to knock the burnt tobacco out of the bowl prior to repacking it with fresh tobacco.
- Quotes
Kihachi: What did you plan to do with my son?
Otaka: Who cares about your son? He's cheap, like you, playing around with actresses.
[Kihachi beats Otaka]
Otaka: Are you sorry? I hope you'll be very sorry. The world is like a lottery. You take your ups and your downs. Let's make up please. That makes us even, you see. Just think how I feel.
- Crazy creditsThe film title and credits are placed before a backdrop of plain sackcloth. This would become a trademark of Yasujirô Ozu films.
- ConnectionsRemade as Floating Weeds (1959)
Featured review
an early masterpiece from Ozu
This film is full of the sensitive observation, the slow-building tragic emotion and the moral ambiguity of Ozu's later works. While eschewing the cheap tragedy that was already so fashionable in Japanese melodrama (you can imagine the story going in that direction for any other director), the ending leaves the viewer uncertain and unsettled, with only the vaguest hopes for all concerned.
Apart from the depiction of a rundown and pathetic acting troupe (it reminds me of Alan Mowbray's drunken Shakespearian actor in 'My Darling Clementine'), and the rural small-town atmosphere, what lingers on in the mind is the portrait of an extremely flawed man. Like the great male characters of American cinema, Ichikawa is decent but ruled by anger, regret, and a certain way of life. will Ichikawa ever really be able to change, or do justice to those he feels responsible for? But after all, actors will be actors...
In fact, if this film is to be criticized for anything, it should be done so for its lack of a really detailed look into the lives and profession of the actors. After all, Ichikawa's profession turns out to play such an important part, in the end, in the fate of his 'family'.
Ozu's direction of women (particularly Ichikawa's wronged, but vengeful, lover) is sensitive and truthful, while his his direction of children is, as always, well-observed and hilarious.
Apart from the depiction of a rundown and pathetic acting troupe (it reminds me of Alan Mowbray's drunken Shakespearian actor in 'My Darling Clementine'), and the rural small-town atmosphere, what lingers on in the mind is the portrait of an extremely flawed man. Like the great male characters of American cinema, Ichikawa is decent but ruled by anger, regret, and a certain way of life. will Ichikawa ever really be able to change, or do justice to those he feels responsible for? But after all, actors will be actors...
In fact, if this film is to be criticized for anything, it should be done so for its lack of a really detailed look into the lives and profession of the actors. After all, Ichikawa's profession turns out to play such an important part, in the end, in the fate of his 'family'.
Ozu's direction of women (particularly Ichikawa's wronged, but vengeful, lover) is sensitive and truthful, while his his direction of children is, as always, well-observed and hilarious.
helpful•151
- paybaragon
- Jul 25, 2004
- How long is A Story of Floating Weeds?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Història d'una herba errant
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 26 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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By what name was A Story of Floating Weeds (1934) officially released in India in English?
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