Classic Japanese Cinema Discussion Thread
Jul 17, 2018 23:54:18 GMT
spiderwort, petrolino, and 1 more like this
Post by manfromplanetx on Jul 17, 2018 23:54:18 GMT
Kiku to Isamu (1959) " why are some people black and some people white ? " Winner of the 10th Blue Ribbon Awards 1959 ..
Won: Best Film - Tadashi Imai, Won: Best Actress - Tanie Kitabayashi Won: Best Screenplay - Youko Mizuk
Director Tadashi Imai was known for his left-wing social realist filmmaking, here he boldly portrays the first film in Japan to show Blasians (mixed-race children) and the concept of interracial relationships. In recent history & directly linked to the American occupation of Japan following the end of World War II, African-Japanese children were born from unions between American GIs and Japanese women, many were conceived through prostitution. As they aged the biracial children born from these liaisons faced public discrimination and suffered marginalization. Due in part to the re-emergence of nationalism in Japan, but universally, the base human traits of bigotry and ignorance come in to play.
The exceptional film explores the lives of two such children, sister & brother Kiku and Isamu, orphaned they live with their grandmother, each has a different black GI father. The multi layered tale touches on race, culture and identity. Outstanding performances, the characterisations impart a tremendous humanistic dimension. Wise grandmother Tanie Kitabayashi is worldly & pragmatic, and in her only ever film appearance? Emiko Takahashi as Kiku gives an incredibly sincere, moving and spirited account. The touching drama has a positive tone and is forward thinking. Each scene builds upon the last, deeply engaging its audience, the progressive story is not impeded by dwelling on the negatives or self pity. The future does holds confronting social challenges for coming of age Kiku and her brother. Under pressure from outsiders and community, difficult decisions must be now faced...
At the heart of this brilliant film is Kiku, an inspired and bold casting choice from Imai, it would spoil to say anymore.
The wonderful still below, in the context of the journey we have all undertaken, is the most beautiful and heartfelt reflection .. Highly Recommend !!
Won: Best Film - Tadashi Imai, Won: Best Actress - Tanie Kitabayashi Won: Best Screenplay - Youko Mizuk
Director Tadashi Imai was known for his left-wing social realist filmmaking, here he boldly portrays the first film in Japan to show Blasians (mixed-race children) and the concept of interracial relationships. In recent history & directly linked to the American occupation of Japan following the end of World War II, African-Japanese children were born from unions between American GIs and Japanese women, many were conceived through prostitution. As they aged the biracial children born from these liaisons faced public discrimination and suffered marginalization. Due in part to the re-emergence of nationalism in Japan, but universally, the base human traits of bigotry and ignorance come in to play.
The exceptional film explores the lives of two such children, sister & brother Kiku and Isamu, orphaned they live with their grandmother, each has a different black GI father. The multi layered tale touches on race, culture and identity. Outstanding performances, the characterisations impart a tremendous humanistic dimension. Wise grandmother Tanie Kitabayashi is worldly & pragmatic, and in her only ever film appearance? Emiko Takahashi as Kiku gives an incredibly sincere, moving and spirited account. The touching drama has a positive tone and is forward thinking. Each scene builds upon the last, deeply engaging its audience, the progressive story is not impeded by dwelling on the negatives or self pity. The future does holds confronting social challenges for coming of age Kiku and her brother. Under pressure from outsiders and community, difficult decisions must be now faced...
At the heart of this brilliant film is Kiku, an inspired and bold casting choice from Imai, it would spoil to say anymore.
The wonderful still below, in the context of the journey we have all undertaken, is the most beautiful and heartfelt reflection .. Highly Recommend !!