VTLIB(Video 4172), BB-FOR

An Autumn Afternnon aka Sanma no aji (1962)
 

Contemplative study of loneliness and the fleeting nature of life, about a middle-class widower (Ryu) who dutifully arranges the marriage of his daughter. A series of subplots focus on various characters who are in some way connected to the nuptials. Ozu's final film
 
 

BB-FOR

Maboroshi no hikari (1995)

A young woman's husband apparently commits suicide without warning or reason, leaving behind his wife and infant. Yumiko remarries and moves from Osaka to a small fishing village, yet continues to search for meaning in a lonely world.
 
 

BB-FOR
 

The Mystery of Rampo (1994)
aka
Rampo (1994)

Japanese mystery writer Edogawa Rampo hears of a bizarre murder that is eerily close to the plot of one of his banned murder thrillers. When he meets the widow of the murdered man, he discovers her to be exactly like his fictional heroine. This elegant and lush film was reshot (more than 60 percent new footage) after producer Okuyama was dissatisfied with first director Rentaro Mayuzumi's efforts.
 
 

VTLIB(Video 1056), BB-FOR

Seven Samurai aka Shichinin no samurai (1954)

Classic film about 16th-century Japanese village which hires professional warriors to fend off bandits. Kurosawa's ``far-east Western'' has served as model for many films since, including American remake THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (a title once given this film for U. S. release). The complete 208m. version is available on video, and it's even more impressive for its humanity as well as its powerful action sequences.
 
 

VTLIB (Video 6771), BB-FOR

Shall We Dance aka Shall We Dansu? (1996)

Beautifully realized film of middle-aged businessman (Yakusho), who secretly yearns to break out of the rigid conformity of his daily life, encountering the world of ballroom dance. Deliberately paced and laced with humor, with a game cast. Ballerina-turned-actress Kusakari matches Yakusho's fine performance. Written by the director. Widescreen. My personal favorite in this region, because it reflects the current society in realistic fashion--if you want to understand the Japan of today, this is your best bet.
 
 

VTLIB(Video 4367), BB-DRAMA

Shogun (1981) (TV)

In the 16th Century, a British ship sails the Pacific from the Americas in order to escape the Spanish. Blackthorn is the pilot of the ship and the first to realize the possibilities of Japan. Japan is a feudal society which has a strong presence of the Portugese. A struggle is in the final stages for who will be the Shogun, the leader who, under the emperor, governs the land. Toranaga sees in Blackthorn things he can use to at least survive the struggle to come, and if both play their hands correctly, become Shogun.
 
 

VU-DRAMA

Yakuza, The (1975)
 
 

Harry Kilmer returns to Japan after several years in order to rescue his friend George's kidnapped daughter - and ends up on the wrong side of the Yakuza, the notorious Japanese mafia...
 
 
 
 
 

VU-FOR

Black Rain  aka Kuroi ame (1989)

Somber, restrained, and very moving story detailing five years in the life of a family which survived Hiroshima, and the ways their bodies and souls are poisoned by the fallout--or ``black rain. '' A quietly observant character study with a number of haunting black and white images.
 
 

VTLIB(Video 4542), VU-FOR

Heaven and Earth (1990)
 

Physically impressive, large-scale Samurai epic, notable for budget (reportedly over $40 million) and because much of it was shot in Canada! Lacks the mastery of a Kurosawa at the helm, but fans of big battle scenes may enjoy it anyway.
 
 

VTLIB(Optical Disc 65), VU-FOR

Hidden Fortress, The (1958) aka Kakushi toride no san akunin (1958)
 

Autocratic young Princess Uehara and loyal general Mifune must make dangerous journey to their homeland with royal fortune, with only bare minimum of help from two bumbling misfits hoping to make off with a share of the gold. Solid comedy-adventure with great deadpan performance by Mifune; one of Kurosawa's personal favorites. Acknowledged by George Lucas as a primary inspiration for STAR WARS. Some U. S. prints cut to 90m. ; released in Japan at 139m. , and reissued in the U. S. in 1984 at that length. Tohoscope.
 
 

VTLIB(Video 2405), VU-FOR

A Taxing Woman aka Marusa no onna (1987)
 

Disarming contemporary comedy about a tireless, single-minded investigator for the Japanese Revenue Service, and her confrontation with a hotshot businessman who thinks he knows all the angles when it comes to cheating the government. Somewhat overlong, but delightful, with a winning performance by Miyamoto (writer-director Itami's wife) in the lead. Followed by a sequel.
 
 

VTLIB(Video 4941)

Barbarian and the Geisha, The (1958)

Townsend Harris is sent by President Pierce to Japan to serve as the first U.S. Consul-General to that country. Harris discovers enormous hostility to foreigners, as well as the love of a young geisha. Twisting of 19th-century history allows Wayne as Ambassador Townsend Harris to romance Japanese beauty (Ando). Miscasting of Wayne is ludicrous, throwing costumer amuck.
 
 

VTLIB(Video 4964)

Rhapsody in August (1991)aka Hachigatsu no kyoshikyoku (1991)
 

An elderly woman living in Nagasaki Japan takes care of her four grandchildren for their summer vacation. They learn about the atomic bomb that fell in 1945, and how it killed their Grandfather. Richard Gere guest stars as an American nephew of the elderly woman.
 
 

VTLIB(Video 5885)

Hiroshima: the decision to drop the bomb

 Fifty years after America dropped the first atomic bomb, this documentary looks at the events leading up to its use in the light of new information about a hidden agenda. Did top military officials order the attack despite knowing that Japan was willing to surrender? Did a political motivation drive Truman to defy his closest advisors? These and other questions are investigated in this program.

VTLIB(Video 6632), BB-FOR

Tampopo (1986)

In this humorous paean to the joys of food, the main story is about trucker Goro who rides into town like a modern Shane to help Tampopo set up the perfect fast-food noodle restaurant. Woven into this main story are a number of smaller stories about the importance of food, ranging from a gangster who mixes hot sex with food to an old lady terrorizing a shopkeeper by compulsive squeezing of his wares.
 
 

VTLIB(Video 3071)

Gate of Hell aka Jigokumon (1953)
 
 
 

Stark, stunning historical drama, set in 12th-century Japan, about a Samurai who falls in love with--and then tragically shames--a married woman. This beautiful production earned Oscars for Costume Design and Best Foreign Film.
 
 
 

VTLIB(Video 956)

Ran (1985)
 
 

Beautifully filmed adaptation of Shakespeare's King Lear, with Nakadai as a warlord who turns over his domain to his eldest son, inducing a power struggle by his two younger sons. Slowly paced and overly expository at the start, epic picks up with two superb battle scenes. Harada is excellent in supporting role as the most evil of women, getting her just desserts in violent fashion. Oscar winner for Costume Design.
 
 

VTLIB(Video 142)

Blood on the Sun (1945)
 

An American newspaper editor working in pre-World War II Japan tries to expose the menace of a Japanese militarist plan for world conquest.  Nick Condon is a newspaper reporter working in Tokyo who refuses to toe the Japanese line on the expansionist policies of the anti-democratic Imperialist government. When it become clear to the authorities that Condon isn't going to cooperate and that he has some valuable information and contacts, they decide to get him in their clutches for some interrogations and then dispose of him.
 

VTLIB(Video 2018)

Stray Dog aka Nora inu (1949)
 

Set in Tokyo during the late 1940's, the film captures the chaos and humiliation that existed in Japan immediately after World War II. When detective Murakami loses his revolver he must descend into Tokyo's underworld and face the killer who has taken it.   Classic Japanese film noir, most effective as a look at life in post-WW2 Tokyo. Mifune does well as a detective whose gun is stolen; he sets out on an odyssey to reclaim his weapon, and to seek out a killer. Although not as well-known as RASHOMON, this film is just as important to career of Kurosawa and the growth of Japanese cinema.
 

VTLIB(Video 3590)

Kazoku gemu aka The Family Game (1984)
 

A middle-class family battles against the Japanese educational system.  Arrogant tutor is engaged to propel an indolent younger son into a classy school but ends up taking over entire household. Overlong, but original, satire of Japan's burgeoning middle class offers plenty of chuckles, insights into modern-day Japan.
 

VTLIB(Video 1456)

Bakushu aka Early Summer (1951)
 
 

Stirring tale of a woman (Hara) who, at 28, is aging by her society's standards. She resides with her elderly parents, and must deal with their pressure to marry the man of their choice. A sensitively rendered film about basic human emotions, made by a master filmmaker. Details the conflicting senses of obligation and individualism faced by a young daughter as her family-arranged wedding approaches.
 

VTLIB(Video 3589)

Okasan aka Mother (1952)
 

A portrait of a working class mother's struggle to resurrect her family from postwar ruins. It follows a Japanese family through its various trials and tribulations and is full of beautiful, well-drawn characters and superb (and occasionally inventive) photography. Although there is quite a bit of sorrow in the film it lacks Naruse's renowned cynicism and can be enjoyed by people with a variety of tastes. The film is not fast-paced but it is a nuanced and rewarding experience for the patient viewer
 

VTLIB(Video 590)
 

Kagemusha aka The shadow warrior (1980)
 

When a powerful warlord in medieval Japan dies, a poor actor recruited to impersonate him finds difficulty living up to his role and clashes with the spirit of the warlord during turbulent times in the kingdom.
 

VTLIB(Video 970)

Red Lion aka Akage (1969)

Impersonating an Imperial Army officer by wearing a "red lion's mane", a poor servant returns to his village after 10 years of absence to end the village's suffering caused by corrupt officials and businessmen.  A bumbling Japanese soldier saves his village fron a deceitful government. The film ends with a classical samurai finish.
 

VTLIB (Video 6770)

Minbo, or The Gentle Art of Japanese Extortion aka Minbo no onna (1992)

A grand old Japanese hotel is trying to get a prestigious contract as the site of a summit meeting of important foreign officials. Unfortunately, this hotel is quite popular with the Yakuza (Japanese gangsters) and is a favorite target of theirs for extortion. They employ a variety of schemes to con the hotel out of 'hush-money.' The hotel needs to rid itself of the Yakuza and finally begins to fight back by hiring Mahiru Inoue, a lawyer who is an expert at dealing with these criminals on their own terms. This film by Juzo Itami combines action with farce, as an all-out war ensues.

BB-COM

Mr. Baseball (1992)

A Major Leaguer down on his percentages gets traded to the Chiunichi Dragons, and has trouble adjusting to Japanese customs. He resists what he considers ridiculous and arbitrary rules of the club and belittles the etiquette expected of him as a representative of his team. When he starts seeing the interactions of his coach with the owners of the team, and falls in love with his translator, he begins to rethink his attitude.