Silent Revue: A STORY OF FLOATING WEEDS

One of his final silent films, A STORY OF FLOATING WEEDS is quintessential Yasujiro Ozu—it was so successful in its time, both with audience and critics, that the master filmmaker would return to the story of an aging kabuki actor and his vengeful mistress in 1959 for FLOATING WEEDS. And while the later, colour version of the story is well-regarded as one of the most important Japanese films of the mid-century, Ozu’s silent original is no less remarkable and a vital entry in the master filmmaker’s silent output.  

When a leader of a travelling theatre troupe (Takeshi Sakamoto) arrived to a small village and is forced to pause performances due to insufficient funds and bad weather, he takes the opportunity to visit his former mistress (Choko Iida) and their illegitimate son. Meanwhile, his current mistress (Rieko Yagumo) after learning of his secret family, embarks on a scorched earth campaign. Balancing joy and melancholy, love and revenge, A STORY OF FLOATING WEEDS is Ozu at his most trenchant and precise. 

Silent Revue is curated by Alicia Fletcher

Live accompaniment by Marilyn Lerner

Part of the Silent Revue series!

Cast/Crew Info
Director: Yasujiro Ozu | Cast: Takeshi Sakamoto, Choko Iida, Koji Mitsui, Emiko Yagumo, Yoshiko Tsubouchi