Kurutta kajitsu (1956)

Director:

Kô Nakahira

Writer:

Shintarô Ishihara (writer)

Release Date:

12 July 1956 (Japan)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Spending their summer on an exotic beach, two brothers fall for the same beautiful girl, whose charm and looks may hide more than they they bargained for. |

Plot Keywords:

Beach | Generation Gap | Young Love | Japan | Ukulele

Cast

Ayuko Fujishiro	...	Mother
Taizô Fukami	...	Father
Mie Kitahara	...	Eri
Harold Conway	...	Eri's husband
Masumi Okada	...	Hirosawa Frank
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Youko Benisawa	...	Kamakura Housekeeper
Eiko Higashitani	...	Michiko
Shintarô Ishihara
Yûjirô Ishihara	...	Takishima Natsuhisa
Hiroshi Kondô	...	Harbormaster
Yôko Takeuchi	...	Kamakura's Tenant
Masahiko Tsugawa	...	Takishima Haruji
Noriko Watari	...	Eri's Friend
Zenji Yamada	...	Fisherman

Also Known As:

Crazed Fruit (USA)
Juvenile Jungle (International: English title)

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:G (Quebec)

Filming Locations:

Hayama, Kanagawa, Japan

Company:

Nikkatsu Film Company

Trivia:

François Truffaut was so taken with the film that he recommended it to the Cinematheque; this was the first Japanese film awarded that honor.

Goofs:

Continuity: Haruji is loading groceries into a car outside a small grocery stall. Eri rides up on her bike and starts talking to him. Right behind Haruji can be seen a wall clock, the hands of which indicate a time of 4:35. The camera switches to Eri's face for a few seconds, then back to Haru, but now the clock indicates a time of 4:29.

Movie Connections:

Remade as Kuang lian shi (1968)

Soundtrack:

Sobre las olas (Over the Waves)

A Pioneering Film

This film is about a bunch of young men who live the good life (none have jobs, but they have money) in post-war Japan. The film focuses on two brothers and their mutual affection for a young lady named Eri. I don't blame them for being infatuated with her, she is next to beautiful. First its the younger brother Haruji who is able to woo her. Then the older brother Natsuhisa goes for her, out of both desire and jealousy. Eri turns out to be married to an American who spends very little time with her, so she is able to be involved in these affairs. Although this may seem a bit tame now, it was a scandalous film in 1956. It ushered in a Japanese new wave, or it at least suggested one was imminent. The film becomes better with time, as you focus on the love triangle. The actors and Mie Kitahara, who plays Eri, are all convincing. The DVD has commentary from Donald Richie, who is an authority on Japanese film. Again, risqué for the time, tame now (but so is "Rebel Without A Cause" and thats a great film), it is definitely worth your time.