Floating Weeds

In one of Ozu's mature masterpieces, an ageing actor returns with his troupe to a provincial town. There he is reunited with his former lover and his illegitimate son, who believes that the actor is his uncle. The actor's desire to be with his long-lost family enrages his present mistress, who spins an elaborate web of deceit that leads to heartbreak for them all. A stirring visual poem depicting the joy and pain of everyday life, Floating Weeds is beautifully photographed in seaside summer colours by Kazuo Miyagawa, one of Japan's greatest cinematographers. Exquisitely restrained and bittersweet, this is a fine example of Ozu's lyrical melodramas.

Availability

• A DVD of this title is available to hire
• The print of this title is from the National Archive

Cast and Crew

Director

Yasujiro Ozu

Technical information

Certificate

Cert PG

Language

Japanese with English subtitles

Country

Japan

Year

1959

Colour

Running time

119 mins