Reviews & Ratings for
Kisses More at IMDbPro »Kuchizuke (original title)

8 out of 8 people found the following review useful:
I've managed to see my Masumura films all in the wrong order, 26 May 2008

Author: christopher-underwood from Greenwich - London

I've managed to see my Masumura films all in the wrong order starting with the mesmerising and transgressive treat, 'Blind beast', then the very tough, 'Red angel' and the beautiful, 'Manji', I come to this his very first film. And what a charming, fresh and invigorating movie it is. The comparisons with the, then still to come, French New Wave, are certainly understandable and if this does not have the clear stylish stamp of a Godard, it mixes arty, almost abstract long shots with exciting hand held efforts. The minimal story does not get in the way of the central young couple, who are persuasive in their roles and at times almost enchanting. We get glimpses of what might be a distinctly low-rise and makeshift Tokyo and certainly scenes shot at the seaside resort of Enoshima in what looks like it might have been it's heyday. Most enjoyable and I must now go see whether young Hitomi Nozoe went on to have the sort of cinema career she seemed destined for after this stunning performance.

8 out of 8 people found the following review useful:
100,000 yen worth, 15 October 2007

Author: GyatsoLa from Ireland

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Its often said that teenagers were invented in the 1950's, in Japan as in everywhere else. There were 'shocking' youth movies in Japan before this one, but nothing of this quality. This was Yasuzo Masumura's first movie, but it moves with the style and precision of a very experienced film maker. It is often described as a precursor of the 'New Wave' of cinema in the 1960's. I've no idea if it was seen by the likes of Godard, etc., but it has lots of the freshness and vitality of those movies. It still stands up as vibrant and entertaining film making.

There is very little to the plot really, its just two young people, barely out of the teens, both desperately seeking 100,000 yen to release their fathers from prison. The boy Kinichi (Hiroshi Kawaguchi) is kind but seems to have the attention span of a gnat, while the girl Akiko (Hitomi Nozoe) is outwardly bold and confident, but is really desperately lonely. They meet for an evening, then spend the rest of the next day trying to get together again.

This is one of those movies which flows so naturally you don't immediately see just how skillful the film maker is. The first half is simply the two future lovers enjoying each others company - this should be boring and annoying, but its not. It helps that Nozoe is compelling and lovely - Kawaguchi is a little less impressive, its hard to see sometimes what is driving his character. The whole story follows a satisfying arc, with an unusually good ending. It is vastly superior to the majority of the 'youth' movies of America or Britain of that period, much more human and without the commercial cynicism or patronizing morality of the most of the western counterparts. What i particularly like about the story is that while both are trying to 'save' their parents, there is no sentimentality or false morality in the portrayal of the lovers. They are simply lost kids, trying to do the best that they can for their wayward parents. In this sense, it can be seen as a very modern, very adult movie.

This may have been overtaken in style by the classic movies of the New Wave, but this is still a fascinating slice of life from the period. I was very surprised when i watched it to see that it really hasn't dated (unlike so many of this type of movie), its well worth the time for anyone interested in Japanese movies of the period - although its also perhaps the least 'japanese' movie of the period I've seen, it could easily have been transposed to a French or American background with almost no change in the story. For those interested in Masumuru, it also shows that his template of making interesting, intelligent movies out of superficially commercial or potentially exploitative material started at the very beginning of his career.

As a minor point, it also has a great early sequence set in a Keirin stadium - for cycle sports fans this must rank as one of the earliest portrayal on screen of this sport.

1 out of 27 people found the following review useful:
Dull, 2 January 2003

Author: sharptongue from Sydney, Australia

Not much to say about this unexceptional film. It may have been somewhat sensational when released in late 50's Japan, but looks all very innocent today. The lead actress is pleasant to look at but her performance, like the rest of the actors, is unremarkable.

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