Delightful I think this Yamanaka guy was really a genius 
Pioneered so so much and it all feels effortless
Had just as wonderful a time with this as Humanity and Paper Balloons, sort of unbelievable 
Like these films are in some kind of zen state I’ve only seen in maybe Bloody Spear at Mount Fuji, if not then maybe nowhere else
So graceful but still gritty
Doesn’t shy away from the dirt and grime of a fundamentally unjust society, but can make light of it when the chances come up 
And they come up naturally 
The way the stories are constructed are so authentic and biological 
Idk if that really works as an adjective but
They feel alive yk, you know somethings written well when you feel like the characters are actually making their own decisions and choices and that’s what drives the plot 
Ig it is just the damage ww2 did to the Japanese film industry in particular, but just commercialisation as a whole bc this feels so kind-spirited in a way that seems completely eradicated by now
Concerned with nothing else but just telling a story 
It feels so pure I think 
Maybe that’s way too dire to say completely eradicated but what I’m saying makes so much sense I think and isn’t profound at all, but seriously makes these two films all the more impressive 
Characters with actual depth feels like such a breath of fresh air
Not even in that they’re emotionally complex, but they operate in that authentic ‘biological’ (I’m regretting that word rn) way that I can’t explain too well atm
Worth studying clearly 
They’re choices matter, and are made with everyone’s previous choices in mind, not with the plot
Things are staged and guided so that it doesn’t feel like a documentary too
It’s just balanced perfectly 
Especially when considering the women in these films and how they operate like real people, not just plot devices that a lot of the jidai-gekis in the coming decades would for some reason prefer
And the male characters aren’t just loud meatbags
You get the typical: scummy drunkards, skilled ronin, greedy lords etc.
But you get subversions: looks are deceiving, kindness trumps villainy and whatever else 
It’s born from itself and brought to a frontier of technical mastery id be impressed by 91 years later
What the hell 
And it’s fun 
It’s just a lovely way to spend 92 minutes 
Absolutely loved this can’t recommend it enough
Gets going instantly and doesn’t let up

Delightful I think this Yamanaka guy was really a genius 
Pioneered so so much and it all feels effortless
Had just as wonderful a time with this as Humanity and Paper Balloons, sort of unbelievable 
Like these films are in some kind of zen state I’ve only seen in maybe Bloody Spear at Mount Fuji, if not then maybe nowhere else
So graceful but still gritty
Doesn’t shy away from the dirt and grime of a fundamentally unjust society, but can make light of it when the chances come up 
And they come up naturally 
The way the stories are constructed are so authentic and biological 
Idk if that really works as an adjective but
They feel alive yk, you know somethings written well when you feel like the characters are actually making their own decisions and choices and that’s what drives the plot 
Ig it is just the damage ww2 did to the Japanese film industry in particular, but just commercialisation as a whole bc this feels so kind-spirited in a way that seems completely eradicated by now
Concerned with nothing else but just telling a story 
It feels so pure I think 
Maybe that’s way too dire to say completely eradicated but what I’m saying makes so much sense I think and isn’t profound at all, but seriously makes these two films all the more impressive 
Characters with actual depth feels like such a breath of fresh air
Not even in that they’re emotionally complex, but they operate in that authentic ‘biological’ (I’m regretting that word rn) way that I can’t explain too well atm
Worth studying clearly 
They’re choices matter, and are made with everyone’s previous choices in mind, not with the plot
Things are staged and guided so that it doesn’t feel like a documentary too
It’s just balanced perfectly 
Especially when considering the women in these films and how they operate like real people, not just plot devices that a lot of the jidai-gekis in the coming decades would for some reason prefer
And the male characters aren’t just loud meatbags
You get the typical: scummy drunkards, skilled ronin, greedy lords etc.
But you get subversions: looks are deceiving, kindness trumps villainy and whatever else 
It’s born from itself and brought to a frontier of technical mastery id be impressed by 91 years later
What the hell 
And it’s fun 
It’s just a lovely way to spend 92 minutes 
Absolutely loved this can’t recommend it enough
Gets going instantly and doesn’t let up