Hey, it’s been a couple of weeks since I watched a movie from Criterion’s Eclipse series, and it’s mostly been because I haven’t really been impressed with either of the two box sets I’m watching: The Louis Malle one had one fantastic movie, and then the rest have been, to use a technical term, “ehh”. And the Kobayashi films have been really disappointing.
But here we go.
One problem with the other Kobayashi films is that they’re so … schematic. I mean — “Here’s This Problem”. This may well turn out to be that way, too, but it starts off better.
OK, I was wrong. This looks great, but it’s just as didactic as his other movies. This time, it’s about a neighbourhood where Everybody Is A Character (But Poor), and they’re being evicted. I’m guessing it’s going to end in a tragedy, because Capitalism.
So again, while everything Kobayashi is saying is correct, it’s just doesn’t work well as a movie.
O… kay.
Kobayashi is trying so hard. So hard.
I just don’t understand these ratings, so I’m probably wrong and all of these Kobayashi movies are amazing.
As with the previous movies, the technicians at Shochiku are amazing — this looks amazing, from the sets to the lighting to the cinematography. And some of the performances are compelling. But I don’t think it works as a movie, so:
Black River. Masaki Kobayashi. 1957.
This blog post is part of the Eclipse series.