Sun Legends

[Ono Seiko and Aaron Gerow]

>The few films I've seen by Yuzo Kawashima convince me that he
>is an undiscovered master (even though Imamura did write
>a book about him).  Does anyone know if there has ever
>been a thorough retrospective of his works?

To second Bill, let me just say that one of the great pleasures I've had 
since coming to Japan in 1992 is discovering Kawashima Yuzo.  While he 
did make a lot of flops during his all-too brief career (which still 
spanned 20 years), he produced some of the more fascinating Japanese 
films I have seen and his work (especially his later films) is always 
worth a look.  Imammura's debt to him is great (and Imamura always 
acknowledges it: one of the most interesting Imamura films I have seen is 
a 30 minute TV documentary he did on Kawashima in which he goes to the 
Shimokita Hanto to visit Kawashima's grave, and then to Osore-zan, to try 
to bring back his ghost!  A truly odd film.)

Luckily, Kawashima is well-recognized in Japan: there have been a number 
of retros on him at the various meigaza and a number of publications 
(most of which are biographical: as a critical work, the _Yuriika_ rinji 
zokan on Kawashima that came out a few years ago is still the best book 
(vol. 21.4, 1989). 

_Bakumatsu taiyoden_ is generally recognized as his masterpiece, but 
everyone should remember it could have been even better: originally, 
Frankie Sakai at the end was supposed to escape down the road, out the 
studio, and into modern Japan!

Personally, _Kashima ari_ (1959) is my favorite: like _Bakumatsu_, it is 
about the problem of defining personal space and the urge, once that 
fails, to escape, but the construction of space is much better.

Other favorites:

_Kaette kita otoko_ (1944) A light and wonderful comedy which you can't 
believe was made in 1944 (his debut film)

_Kurama-to no yuwaku_ (1959) A bizarre failure of a film, but still worth 
a look.  A parody of postwar Japanese history that appropriately ends 
with the H-bomb.

_Gan no tera_ (1962).  Wakao Ayako!  And there's a toilet in most every 
Kawashima film.

_Shitoyakana kedamono_ (1962).  A brilliant film almost all shot in a 
single apartment with not a single camera angle duplicated.

Someday, I will write something on the fellow!

Aaron Gerow
YNU