Floating Weeds

About Floating Weeds

Floating Weeds is a 1959 Japanese Drama film directed by Yasujirō Ozu. The story revolves around aging actor-manager Komajuro (Ganjiro Nakamura), who brings his troupe of actors to a seaside town, where he secretly visits his former lover, Oyoshi (Haruko Sugimura), and their illegitimate son, Kiyoshi (Hiroshi Kawaguchi). Relationship complexities arise when Komajuro asks his current mistress, Sumiko (Machiko Kyō), to seduce Kiyoshi to prove that he’s just an ordinary man, leading to emotional tension and heartbreak.

Making / Production

The film is a reinterpretation of Ozu's own 1934 black-and-white silent film A Story of Floating Weeds. Directed in color, this film meticulously captures the traditional Japanese theater and the lifestyle of the traveling actors. Yasujirō Ozu teamed up with film production company Daiei Film to deliver this visually stunning masterpiece, utilizing a somewhat static camera to create a rhythmic, “pillow shot” aesthetic.

Actors

• Ganjirō Nakamura played the role of Komajuro, effortlessly portraying an aging actor grappling with personal and professional issues.
• Machiko Kyō as Sumiko, Komajuro's jealous mistress, displays a complex array of emotions, from fierce loyalty to vengeful spitefulness.
• Hiroshi Kawaguchi skillfully portrays Kiyoshi, the innocent son caught up in the chaos of his parents' past mistakes.
• Haruko Sugimura plays the loving and understanding Oyoshi, who symbolizes the essence of unconditional love.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• Floating Weeds is one of only six feature color films that Yasujirō Ozu directed in his long career.
• This is a sound remake of Ozu’s own silent film A Story of Floating Weeds from 1934.
• The film was shot in Technicolor, and features a dramatic use of color, with Ozu choosing strong primary colors for key emotional scenes.

Awards

While Floating Weeds did not receive any official awards, it continues to be recognized as a classic in world cinema, and regarded highly by critics and audiences alike.

Quotes

• “The more you try to forget, the more you think about it. Memories are funny that way."
• "Old people get sentimental. Can't help it."
• "The sea is very calm... Just like my heart now."

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's score composed by Toshiro Mayuzumi adds to the emotional depth of the film.
• Traditional Japanese folk music and expressive drum rhythms enhance the narrative flow of the film.