Ukigusa Monogatari (A story of floating weeds)
In retrospect, I am still surprised at how much “Tokyo Monogatari” ruined my enjoyment of Ozu films. At that time, I had only seen the 1959 version “Ukigusa” and actually liked it. In retrospect, I enjoyed “Ohayo” more, but I have always kept “Ukigusa” in high esteem. It has human melodrama, wonderful actors, a luscious style and most importantly it was an engaging, humorous story. Unfortunately I had heard that your typical Ozu film is more like “Tokyo Monogatari” rather than “Ukigusa”, and got the wrong assumption that I hated Ozu’s style. I could not have been more wrong.
Incidentally, however, “Ukigusa” really is very different from his other films. While most Ozu films deal with “normal” people whose lives are quite integrated with society, the very fact that the main character is a kabuki actor makes the film stand out. Just like the children in “Ohayo” are outsiders, the struggles of the traveling actor is unusual in the world of Ozu. Personally I think it leads to more interesting stories than the more simplistic “Sanma no Aji”, for example. I believe it is the inherent loveliness of the story that made Ozu want to remake the film, since the storyline is probably the only thing that is kept constant with both films.
Everything else seems to have improved in “Ukigusa”. Sound allows funnier dialogue and color allows prettier visuals. Ironically most Ozu films I have seen were color films, and I think he uses it marvelously. Most of all, I felt like the sparse dialogue in the 1934 did not allow the characters to bloom as much. Kihachi looks like a wimp and a woman-beater, his former lover looks like a meek woman who has nothing to say for herself and the mistress simply seems to be mean. When I saw the 1959 version, I took a strong liking to her, making the ending scene much more powerful. Oh yeah there also is the son. Well, if the film was supposed to show that he matured throughout the film, but he managed to throw a pointless tantrum in the end after all.
Having said nothing but bad things about this film, I actually do see some merit in the film. I have always remembered “Ukigusa” to be a rather pleasant, light-hearted film (certainly thanks to the other kabuki actors’ amusing antics), whereas “Ukigusa monogatari” shows the heartbreaking melodrama more strongly. As much as they are portrayed in a somewhat bad light, they are still human and likable (much unlike “Tokyo monogatari” where I pretty much disliked everybody), such that it is easy to feel empathy with them. I believe that is the reason the film (and its story) were a success, and deservedly so.
Overall though, I simply prefer the upgraded version “Ukigusa”. Maybe late Ozu is just greater than early Ozu?