Relationships are a big part of Japanese novels, and movies, more so, in my opinion than in Hollywood, where plot drives the movies for the most part. Shimizu, Hiroshi is an artist. He is an experienced director in showing the auidence rather than telling them the enduring themes he wants to examine in the film. Lonliness and the seeking of fulfillment is one of the themes here. A second one is the technology and wealth of the society in the 1930's, part of the recovery from the Great Depression. Society is going up. Attraction by Japan toward America and Western society is another theme presented here. There is an interesting acting sytle which is partially familiar from Kabuki gestures and part of the new more natural way of behaving in front of a camera here. Shimizu is intgerested in women's lives , in the 3 movies I have watched, this one, Arigato-San, and Boss's Son goes to College. The women havee the stronger roles. Sunako is the featured woman in this movie. She has a longing for some image of happiness, which means finding a husband. She really has found someone who tgruly loves her, but she doesn't find a peace of mind until the end. There are two Japanese actors with English names, Henry, and Dora. Much of the action is in Yokohama, where 3 girls are in a Catholic? School. Shimizu likes port cities. Ports are points of contact with the outside world. The girls wish to leave their situation, but they really can't go very far, only to Kobe (another port city) . There are few chjoices for them to esxpress their potential. Though we don't know what that potential is. Instead we learn only of an emotional lonliness and restlessness. They might be children of the middle-clkass, they are turning away slowly from the traditoinal modes, and look for something to fulfill them in the Western culture...And yet, they don't have tghe means to purchasse the goods of the West. They are on the edge, and this edge is not so comvortable for any of them. I particularly like the scene in the parking lot at the dock of President Asia cruise ship. This is Sunako searching for her boy friend, who chose Yoko for the big Ball. Youth is spent chasing the new consumer cultuere that is in its childhood here. There are many scene compositions which I enjoy Shimiuzu focusing on.
