Review of Floating Weeds (1959) by Maxwell S — 23 Aug 2012
Most remakes try to viciously detach itself from it's original and take a new path to the story, or just remake it with a new style, but still wanting to be different. But, with this ,"Floating Weeds" has successfully beaten it's original (an already VERY accomplished film), but doesn't have any aggression towards it, but rather a tender love for the film.
"A Story of Floating Weeds" and "Floating Weeds" both have the same story, and like a lot of masterworks, it has a story that just creates an open opportunity for analysis of itself and characters (Frankenstein, King Kong, The Leopard, Citizen Kane, etc.
). The 1934 version is almost strictly an analysis, with beauty and much mastery. While that much depth is already masterful, it limits itself from achieving complete greatness. This 1959 version doesn't make the mistake of overanalyzing it's pitch-perfect premise.
It ends up with more beauty, emotions, power, sense of life, and with more breathing room, all in such great balance and pace. My favorite scene, which I'm glad Ozu kept was the one where Komajuro is yelling at Sumiko and it is snowing in the middle of the room.
How much it accomplishes makes it eligible for the title of the greatest film ever made. Which, by some, it is. This is definitely way up on my list, and is an essential viewing.
This review of Floating Weeds (1959) was written by Maxwell S on 23 Aug 2012.
Floating Weeds has generally received very positive reviews.
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