377 When a Woman Ascends the Stairs

[Anonymous]

Oh how marvellous! This and MoC's Naruse set, bliss and joy!

[What A Disgrace]

About five years ago, when my interest in film began to take flight, a friend of mine spoke highly of this film, and placed it among the 100 best films ever made. And he convinced me that even Criterion would be reluctant to put this film out. I hope he survives the shock.

[Michael Kerpan]

About five years ago, when my interest in film began to take flight, a friend of mine spoke highly of this film, and placed it among the 100 best films ever made. And he convinced me that even Criterion would be reluctant to put this film out. I hope he survives the shock.

"Woman Ascending" is beautiful film -- and everyone should see it But I'd rank it no higher than tenth place overall on my Naruse list (out of 50+ seen). Three of the films I love even more are in MOC's boxset. But since my lovely World Artists video of this was eaten by a dying VCR, I look forward to a high quality subbed DVD version (which will hopefully match the excellent unsubbed Japanese DVD in quality).

[davida2]

I was pleasantly surprised to see this quite so soon - it IS a great one, and I hope it signals more Naruse in the not so distant future. Naruse hasn't been quite as analysed as the folks he's often compared to, so I'm interested in seeing/hearing the extras.

[Cinesimilitude]

I'll give it a go, simply because I don't have the money for the Naruse MoC box at the moment. If I like this enough, I'll spring for that one too.

[lazier than a toad]

Does anyone know who has the UK rights for this one, or is it likely to appear in the MoC catalogue in the future? Vol. 2 perhaps?

[Don Lope de Aguirre]

I was pleasantly surprised to see this quite so soon - it IS a great one, and I hope it signals more Naruse in the not so distant future. Naruse hasn't been quite as analysed as the folks he's often compared to, so I'm interested in seeing/hearing the extras.

I imagine the Bock essay will be taken from her superb book on Japanese directors. If you haven't got it all ready buy it!

[Michael Kerpan]

I imagine the Bock essay will be taken from her superb book on Japanese directors. If you haven't got it all ready buy it!

Bock's book is invaluable -- but more than a little out of date (and long out of print). I believe that she has written more recent essays on Naruse -- but these were printed in magazines I have no access to. It is interesting that she did a lot to struggle against the conventional wisdom of the time about Naruse -- but did nonetheless buy into a good deal of it herself (an irresistible current, I guess).

[Artois]

Does anyone know who has the UK rights for this one, or is it likely to appear in the MoC catalogue in the future? Vol. 2 perhaps?

BFI have the rights and I think it's due Feb '07, along with Floating Clouds and Late Chrysanthemums

[Steven H]

I'll give it a go, simply because I don't have the money for the Naruse MoC box at the moment. If I like this enough, I'll spring for that one too.

I have the feeling a lot of people are going to do this.

I already posted my feelings about this film in the Naruse thread, but would like to add that Nakadai definitely isn't "starring", it's mostly a showpiece for Takamine Hideko, and she couldn't be better in it. The only other role I think she comes close to this in is Naruse's Horoki (A Wanderer's Notebook), but I'm sure many will disagree (including Michael). She's unbelievably graceful, but there's so much pessimism and darkness that she carries, like bags under her eyes, you wonder how she carries on at all. Her callous, meloncholy voiceover narration, and playing off of the narration, is a wonderful aspect of the film. Naruse, especially the last two decades of his career, did many fascinating things with the combination of sounds and images to enhance drama, most of these "tricks" I don't notice the first time around, being so wrapped up in character and plot. Then there are films like Late Chrysanthemums (the other VHS release, a great film which we'll probably see on DVD more sooner than later) that take such a device and plant it in the middle of the film, flooring you with it (in this case, introducing a voiceover where there was none previously, and then not using it again).

I look forward to more people becoming familiar with this director, but don't let our breathless praise affect you too much (I saw Tribe's post about how Naruse "better be worth it", and I can imagine others are thinking the same). I said it in the Naruse thread, and I'll say it again; "Naruse is a grower".

[Michael Kerpan]

I already posted my feelings about this film in the Naruse thread, but would like to add that Nakadai definitely isn't "starring", it's mostly a showpiece for Takamine Hideko, and she couldn't be better in it. The only other role I think she comes close to this in is Naruse's Horoki (A Wanderer's Notebook), but I'm sure many will disagree (including Michael). She's unbelievably graceful, but there's so much pessimism and darkness that she carries, like bags under her eyes, you wonder how she carries on at all. Her callous, meloncholy voiceover narration, and playing off of the narration, is a wonderful aspect of the film.

My only niggle with "Woman Ascending" are a few slow spots in the script. Cinematography and performances (especially Takanine's) couldn't possibly be better. The only reason I wouldn't pick this as my favorite Takamine performance is that she is so wonderful in so many Naruse films. Besides this, I would also specially note her extraordinary performances in "Horoki", "Floating Clouds", "Yearning" and "Lightning". If I were to pick my most loved Takamine performance, it would probably be that in "Lightning" -- but all these are probably equivalent in sheer quality.

Naruse, especially the last two decades of his career, did many fascinating things with the combination of sounds and images to enhance drama, most of these "tricks" I don't notice the first time around, being so wrapped up in character and plot. Then there are films like Late Chrysanthemums (the other VHS release, a great film which we'll probably see on DVD more sooner than later) that take such a device and plant it in the middle of the film, flooring you with it.

"Late Chrysanthemums" went SO far over my head on first watching I feel positively embarrassed now.

I look forward to more people becoming familiar with this director, but don't let our breathless praise affect you too much (I saw Tribe's post about how Naruse "better be worth it", and I can imagine others are thinking the same). I said it in the Naruse thread, and I'll say it again; "Naruse is a grower".

I agree. It took me a couple of years after my first Naruse experience to actually figure out how to see his films in their own right -- and not through my "Ozu filter". His films simply get better an better with increased acquaintance.

[lazier than a toad]

BFI have the rights and I think it's due Feb '07, along with Floating Clouds and Late Chrysanthemums

Thanks Artois. How/where can you find things like this out?

[Steven H]

My only niggle with "Woman Ascending" are a few slow spots in the script. Cinematography and performances (especially Takanine's) couldn't possibly be better. The only reason I wouldn't pick this as my favorite Takamine performance is that she is so wonderful in so many Naruse films. Besides this, I would also specially note her extraordinary performances in "Horoki", "Floating Clouds", "Yearning" and "Lightning". If I were to pick my most loved Takamine performance, it would probably be that in "Lightning" -- but all these are probably equivalent in sheer quality.

I can understand the niggle. When A Woman... is a sprawling film, leading in different directions, and pulls narrative expectations out from under you (think of the suitor play with Kato, Mori, and Nakadai.) Though I can't say I feel the same way, perhaps it's this aspect of the film is what drags it for you? I'm glad you brought up Floating Clouds and Lightning. In Floating Clouds her performance, to me, is almost overshadowed by Mori, who turns in the best role I think he's ever done. Lightning uses music and space so effectively, and you're right, her work in it does compare, but I appreciate her so much more when she's dour, and Naruse so much more in scope. I've said before, my preference for scope Naruse is a personal thing, and it doesn't dampen my love for the "traditionally" framed masterpieces of the 50s and before at all, I just think his cinematic voice was clearer with that style.

There is something fascinating about her acting and how she develops the character in Lightning. You can really see her "grow up", and in that way, it's probably one of the best films to see *before* When A Woman Ascends the Stairs (though there's far more confrontation/resolution with family members in the earlier film.)

"Late Chrysanthemums" went SO far over my head on first watching I feel positively embarrassed now.

I'm waiting on my hands for this one to come out on DVD. Since it's the only Naruse that's being tossed around as a subtitled possibility right now that I haven't seen any correllative R2 Japan disc for, I can only imagine how good the film will look after wearing down my DVDr copy of the VHS tape. Sure one of the most complex female roles in Japanese cinema, and Sugimura Haruko delivers handily.

I agree. It took me a couple of years after my first Naruse experience to actually figure out how to see his films in their own right -- and not through my "Ozu filter". His films simply get better an better with increased acquaintance.

When A Woman is completely different from any Ozu film (where the MoCs share some things in common) and world's apart from Mizoguchi and Suzuki.

[davida2]

Naruse, especially the last two decades of his career, did many fascinating things with the combination of sounds and images to enhance drama, most of these "tricks" I don't notice the first time around, being so wrapped up in character and plot. Then there are films like Late Chrysanthemums (the other VHS release, a great film which we'll probably see on DVD more sooner than later) that take such a device and plant it in the middle of the film, flooring you with it (in this case, introducing a voiceover where there was none previously, and then not using it again).

The two films I've seen thus far, and - even though there's not a huge amount of "extra" material that could be be thrown in - this is why I'm looking forward to the commentary and essays (the Bock book is on my list). Most of the comparatively little Naruse critique I've run across thus far is in comparison with Ozu, which definitely incites curiosity, but even with two films there are enough detectable differences that one would hope to see these delved into a bit more deeply.

[yukiyuki]

"Woman Ascending" is beautiful film -- and everyone should see it But I'd rank it no higher than tenth place overall on my Naruse list (out of 50+ seen). Three of the films I love even more are in MOC's boxset.

what are the other 6 movies ?

[kieslowski_67]

About five years ago, when my interest in film began to take flight, a friend of mine spoke highly of this film, and placed it among the 100 best films ever made. And he convinced me that even Criterion would be reluctant to put this film out. I hope he survives the shock.

"Woman Ascending" is beautiful film -- and everyone should see it But I'd rank it no higher than tenth place overall on my Naruse list (out of 50+ seen). Three of the films I love even more are in MOC's boxset. But since my lovely World Artists video of this was eaten by a dying VCR, I look forward to a high quality subbed DVD version (which will hopefully match the excellent unsubbed Japanese DVD in quality).

"Woman Ascending" is one of my favorite Naruse films from the two Naruse box sets (released in Japan). I think that this is superior to "floating clouds", "sound of the moutain", and "scattered clouds". The only other Naruse film that I hold such high regard is "Meshi".

[TheGodfather]

This has my interest for sure. I already got the Naruse MoC box on pre-order so if I like that one, I`ll go for this one as well

[Michael Kerpan]

"Woman Ascending" is beautiful film -- and everyone should see it But I'd rank it no higher than tenth place overall on my Naruse list (out of 50+ seen). Three of the films I love even more are in MOC's boxset.

what are the other 6 movies ?

I think the powers that be want general Naruse discusions to take place in the Naruse thread in the Old Films Forum, so my (sort of) answer to your question is here.

[Matango]

Saw this very same cover image on a Jap DVD in Tokyo last month. No English writing on it, but kinda guessed title....

[Gigi M.]

Back cover and spine

[feckless boy]

DVD Beaver Review

[kinjitsu]

Stuart Galbraith at DVD Talk

[Matango]

Hate to say it but I enjoyed this far more than any of the three films in the MoC box. Richie's excellent commentary further highlighted the overall redundancy of Lopate and Jones' inadequate chatter, too. Would like to know why he recorded in 2004 and 2006, instead of in one go - especially as the latter part has a comment that puts it in 2004. Only picked up two minor errors in his commentary, which is fewer than I was expecting, since Sir Donald has been known to lose the plot in a couple of earlier talk tracks, and isn't getting any younger. Nice package design too, and the first I've seen that includes the date on the front cover as part of the design.

[Tribe]

Nice package design too, and the first I've seen that includes the date on the front cover as part of the design.

All CCs with the new design have had that except for the Rohmer boxset and Symbiopsychotaxiplasm.

Tribe

[Michael Kerpan]

Hate to say it but I enjoyed this far more than any of the three films in the MoC box. .

Well -- it's a matter of taste -- but I think the MOC films are better overall. "Woman Ascending" surely wins the day in terms of bravura cinematography. However, this is offset by a somewhat weaker script. This is a very good film -- and I suspect it can make the best first impression -- but the MOC three ultimately provide greater rewards with increasing familiarity.