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Sailor-fuku to kikanju / Sailor Suit and Machine Gun (Shinji Somai, 1981)
Tantei monogatari / Detective Story (Kichitaro Negishi, 1983)
W no higeki / Tragedy of W (Shinichiro Sawai, 1984)

A mini-festival of early films by (then) young star Hiroko Yakushimaru (seen more recently as the head lady of waiting in Princess Raccoon). HY has been a popular (and award-winning) actress for more than 25 years -- yet remains virtually known outside Asia.

Ironically, the film I was most eager to see -- Somai's Sailor suit and Machine Gun was least satisfying. While there were more than a few enjoyable sequences, this was sometimes sloppy narratively and visually. (Only hints of the complete mastery Somai would show in his later Ohikkoshi). Still, an interesting cultural artifact of its time, well worth seeing.

More screen captures:

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Detective Story was the most entertaining narratively -- with Yusaku Matsuda (the tutor from Morita's Family Game) as a detective hired to watch over HY (by her absent father) as she prepares to join him in America (leaving all her college pals behind). Due to the involvement of Matsuda's ex-wife with the murder of a gang boss's son, HY winds up aiding (and protecting) Matsuda and his ex-wife -- over the protests of her housekeeper (Kyoko Kishida). HY is a charmer here -- and the story (while improbable) is mostly lots of fun.

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Tragedy of W had an extemely old-fashioned plot -- one could easily imagine this as a 30s vehicle for Bette Davis or Joan Crawford. HY is a an acting apprentice who loses out in getting a part she desperately wanted (to a friend) -- but winds up getting the part underhandedly, by helping the troupe's leading lady cover up a sordid secret. Meanwhile, she has met an engaging young man, who has given up on acting for real estate agenting -- but nonetheless has been smitten by her. This film was clearly HY's declaration of cinematic adulthood -- and so loses her (cinematic) virginity here -- which is a bit disconcerting as she was an extremely young-seeming 20 year old (and could still easily pass for a high school student for at least another 5 years). HY oscillates here between an engagingly natural manner and "over-acting" (though -- given the nature of the part and the story -- I suspect any over-acting was quite intentional). In any event, this is was a very good-looking film:

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Michael Kerpan wrote:W no higeki / Tragedy of W (Shinichiro Sawai, 1984)

I saw this film theatrically recently and thought that it was very strong. Not earth shattering, but quite accomplished. I'd definitely say that any "overacting" was part of the stylized mise en scene. I thought that the ending was devastating.

I've not yet had the opportunity to catch up with any of Sawai's other work. Is there anything else of particular distinction? This film had me very intrigued.

Edit: The frame grabs from this one and Sailor Suit are showing up postage-stamp sized in both Safari and Firefox on my Mac. Saving them and opening them in a graphics program doesn't seem to help either. Only the ones from Detective Story are displaying correctly.

fred wrote:

Michael Kerpan wrote:W no higeki / Tragedy of W (Shinichiro Sawai, 1984)

I saw this film theatrically recently and thought that it was very strong. Not earth shattering, but quite accomplished. I'd definitely say that any "overacting" was part of the stylized mise en scene. I thought that the ending was devastating.

I've not yet had the opportunity to catch up with any of Sawai's other work. Is there anything else of particular distinction? This film had me very intrigued.

I believe Sawai directed a mega-epic about Genghis Khan that is just now being released. And IVL has another Sawai release, Early Spring Story (starring Tomoyo Harada -- instead of Hiroko Y).

W was my introduction to Sawai also -- so I need to do some more exploring. It was FAR better than my expectations -- which is always a nice thing.

fred wrote:Edit: The frame grabs from this one and Sailor Suit are showing up postage-stamp sized in both Safari and Firefox on my Mac. Saving them and opening them in a graphics program doesn't seem to help either. Only the ones from Detective Story are displaying correctly.

Does this work?

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(If so, I'll need to change all my links). ;~{

Not sure what's wrong -- must be some sort of Photobucket weirdness.

The new link worked. Not sure why the other links only displayed the thumbnails.

I saw that IVL had another one out, but I haven't gotten around to picking it up (poverty and whatnot).

The Genghis Khan thing also gave me pause, as it seemed so far removed from what made Tragedy of W so strong. I guess we'll see soon enough if it's any good.

I didn't really have any expectations going in, but the film definitely intrigued me. Sawai is from that post-New Wave/pre-Kitano period where Japanese film disappears down a black hole for the linguistically impaired.

Someone has posted a live-action manga adaptation (Maison Ikkoku) he did in 1986 on YouTube in its entirety, with English subs. Score by Joe Hisaishi.

The Maison Ikkoku thing is something I'd love to check out -- if I had more time.

The Maison Ikkoku thing is something I'd love to check out -- if I had more time.

Amen.