A Story Of Floating Weeds (1934)/Floating Weeds (1959) (Criterion Collection) On DVD

Actor :       Ganjirô Nakamura, Machiko Kyô, Haruko Sugimura, Ayako Wakao, Hiroshi Kawaguchi
Director:   Yasujiro Ozu
Genre:       Foreign Video - Japanese
Year:         1934
Studio:      Criterion
Length:     205
Released: April 20, 2004
Rating:       Unrated (Video)
Format:     DVD
Misc:          Black & White
Language:Japanese
Subtitles : English

DESCRIPTION:

In 1959, Yasujiro Ozu remade his 1934 silent classic A Story of Floating Weeds in color with the celebrated cinematographer Kazuo Miyagawa (Rashomon, Ugetsu). Setting his later version in a seaside location, Ozu otherwise preserves the details of his elegantly simple plot wherein an aging actor returns to a small town with his troupe and reunites with his former lover and illegitimate son, a scenario that enrages his current mistress and results in heartbreak for all. Together, the films offer a unique glimpse into the evolution of one of cinema's greatest directors. A Story of Floating Weeds reveals Ozu in the midst of developing his mode of expression; Floating Weeds reveals his distinct style at its pinnacle. In each, the director captures the joy and sadness in everyday life.