Thursday, May 19, 2011

Strawberry Shortcake and Rice

Two films from 1951. In Ozu's Early Summer, Noriko is very free, buying delicious cake her sister-in-law thinks much too expensive. In Naruse's Meshi, Michiyo is very constrained, eating rice she does not like, because the household (she thinks) cannot afford better. In Early Summer, Noriko is what everyone sees; in Meshi, Michiyo's husband and friends see two Michiyos that do not exist. Early Summer is sweet. Meshi—depends on condiments!

Kurosawa's The Idiot is also from 1951. How characterize Taeko? Vodka?

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