Masako Yagi Movies
- 1985
Himatsuri is based on a real life tragedy, in which a Japanese man inexplicably slaughtered his family and then killed himself. Kinya Kitaoji plays the thoroughly self-centered "protagonist," who does what he pleases no matter who he hurts. No one dares question Kitaoji due to his blasting-cap temperament. The only thing Kitaoji holds sacred is the land around him, but he's willing to destroy even that to have his own way. He befouls a lake that is sacred to the Shinto religion, spilling oil into the waters rather than letting them fall into the hands of land speculators. Suddenly experiencing a religious awakening, Kitaoji decides to "atone" -- by murdering his family, then committing suicide. No explanations are offered by director Kenji Nakagami: one takes what one wishes from Himatsuri. The film was released to some English-speaking markets as Fire Festival. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kiwako Taichi, Ryota Nakamoto, (more)
- 1981
Set at the mouth of a river in Osaka, Japan less than 10 years after WW II, this touching drama centers on the life lessons learned by two disparate young boys. Asahara's parents own a small restaurant. Sakurai is his new friend. He lives with his mother in a houseboat.. It does not take long for Sakurai and Asahara to become close friends, but the latter is puzzled by Sakurai's unwillingness to talk about his mother and his refusal to allow Asahara to visit his home. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1969
A self-proclaimed anarchist is one of many young people caught up in the moral conflict of personal freedom versus their responsibility to society and its needs. As Japan emerges from centuries under a feudal system, youthful rebellion and free thinking are the main concerns of many students. Past and present tense are combined and the main character is stabbed by his mistress. He begins to feel lost in the changing political and social climate of the times. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Toshiyuki Hosokawa, Mariko Okada, (more)
- 1965
Director Nagisa Oshima's film uses the "pink" genre to mask an allegory about the materialism of post-war Japan (the original title translates as "Indulgence"). Katsuo Nakamura stars as a man blackmailed by a thief, who makes him hold on to some stolen loot while the thief serves a jail sentence. Nakamura is led into temptation by all that money sitting around, so he decides to spend it on wild partying and sex before killing himself to avoid retribution. Like the films of Paul Morrissey, Etsuraku simultaneously exploits its subject matter and condemns it, to peculiar effect. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi
In this renowned and classic Japanese film directed by Kon Ichikawa, the great Kabuki onnagata Kasuo Hasegawa celebrates his 300th film appearance in a role designed especially for him. One of the classic theater styles of Japan, Kabuki does not use women in female roles. Highly trained male actors, called "onnagata," perform in them, and are often more convincing as women than many women might be. In the story, set in 1836, Yukinojo (Kasuo Hasegawa) is an onnagata, travelling to Edo in feminine disguise. On his journey, he recognizes three ruthless merchants who ruined his father's business, driving him to suicide. Pledged to revenge his father's death, he follows them, and with the help of a mysterious bandit martial artist named Yamitaro (also Hasegawa), fulfills his pledge, even though this means the destruction of one of the merchant's innocent daughters, who has fallen in love with him. Actor Hasegawa performed these same roles in a 1935 film version of this same story, directed by Teinosuke Kinugasa, who consulted on this film. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kazuo Hasegawa, Fujiko Yamamoto, (more)
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