Floating Weeds (Ukigusa) poster & wallpaper
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Machiko Kyo, Koji Mitsui, Ganjiro Nakamura, Chishu Ryu, Haruko Sugimura ... see more see more... , Haruo Tanaka , Ayako Wakao , Hiroshi Kawaguchi , Mutsuko Sakura , Mantaro Ushio

This 1959 Ozu production centers on the likable but fallible leader of an itinerant acting troupe ("floating weeds" being the Japanese name for such groups), Kimajuro, played brilliantly by Ganjiro Na... read more read more...kamura. The film opens on a lazy, stagnant river as the troupe lays spread about on a boat deck drifting downstream. It's obvious that they're a ragged bunch as they sit fanning themselves and smoking on deck. The boat pulls into a quiet fishing village where the troupe proceeds to canvass the town, hanging up posters and performing impromptu stunts for the inhabitants. Kimajuro and his actress mistress, Sumiko (Machiko Kyo), head to the theatre and secure their cramped quarters above the theatre's main hall. Kimajuro leaves to pay a visit to a local saki bar owned by Oyoshi (Haruko Sugimura), who, years previous, had conceived a child with Kimajuro. The child has grown into a strapping young man, Kiyoshi (Hiroshi Kawaguchi), who has a good job at the post office. Kimajuro, although clearly proud of his son, has refused to take responsibility for the child and Kiyoshi thinks Kimajuro is merely his uncle. Unbeknownst to Kimajuro, Sumiko has discovered his secret, and, infuriated, hires a young actress to seduce Kiyoshi. Terrified that his son is falling for this woman of loose morals, Kimajuro has to decide what's most important: keeping his secret safe or saving his son by acknowledging his paternity. ~ Brian Whitener, Rovi

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91% liked it

2,278 ratings

Critics

95% liked it

20 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 59 min.

Directed by: Yasujiro Ozu

Release Date: November 17, 1959

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DVD Release Date: March 23, 2010

Stats: 130 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (130)

  • sanjurosamurai
    May 10, 2009
    sanjurosamurai
    a rare remake of a film directed by the same auter of the original, ozu retells his silent 1934 classic with the use of sound, dialogue, and color cinematography. suprisingly the only reason this film is even slightly better than the original is ozu's ability to flesh out the st... read moreory more with 30 extra minutes and talking actors, but the original silent is so amazing that both films should be seen as top notch films. this version is more light hearted than the original but still dark in its own ways, and the telling of this father/son story is beautiful and effective. a truly wonderful film.
  • jennifxu
    May 23, 2008
    jennifxu
    Maybe I just don't like Japanese films, but this is overrated to the hilt. The story is average and the cinematography isn't as cathartic as most would delude themselves into thinking. It was long and boring but it wasn't just that I disliked - it was Ozu's assuming of self-impor... read moretance that from the start turned me off the film.
  • tsigur
    January 30, 2008
    tsigur
    I love the way this movie is shot. Simple story told beautifully. The kid in this film gives the best performance.
  • Lilmovieman271
    May 5, 2012
    Lilmovieman271
    While I did not think it was a great as Tokyo Story, it is still proof that Ozu is one of the best directors I ever came across......
  • hossein13
    September 28, 2010
    hossein13
    Sep 2010 - It is of course very important to see this in contrast to the earlier, silent and black and white version of the movie made by Ozu. The story also has moved to the more modern period. The are certain dimensions added to the movie which makes it richer than the original... read more. In particular the conflict between the generations is more apparent here. Also the colors are so fantastically chosen that despite my love for the expressionist scenes in the earlier version, I loved this one. There are more of the short stories beside the main story and in particular we see and understand other members of the troupe. There is however something that I missed hear and it was the theatrical, stylish and dark atmosphere of the earlier version. I think this matches the story more and for example Ozu's humor in his later movies is not so at home with this story.
  • HuskersNC949597
    June 4, 2010
    HuskersNC949597
    It's not the most interesting story I've seen even this afternoon/evening, but it is packaged neatly by a directorial legend, so people love it.
  • columbiatch
    June 4, 2009
    columbiatch
    Since it's a remake of the 1934 film the tone, plot, and dramatic feel of this is quite unusual compared to Ozu's other late period films. Ozu takes more time to tell the same story and concentrates more on the atmosphere, which greatly benefits from Miyagawa' s beautiful work a... read morend the Nino Rota-like score, while the melodrama is more pronounced with sound.
  • wanbaclone
    February 4, 2009
    wanbaclone
    Floating Weeds may not hold a candle to Tokyo Story, but it's still a great movie. Better than most as is generally the case for lesser works of a master.

    The last half of the movie makes the first half worth it. Specifically, there's a scene near the end where - and I won't... read more use names because I don't want to spoil it - one character tries to light the cigarette of another, and the result is screen magic. The shot selection Ozu uses is par for the course on a film of his: carefully selected and almost always perfect. He sets up the blocking so well that you could understand a scene just by the way everything is arranged. While sometimes this can come off as stagey, it works well for a movie about an acting troupe.

    A great movie by any standard, and a heck of a lot less melancholy than Tokyo Story.
  • thrusz
    July 12, 2007
    thrusz
    As a companion piece to "A Story of Floating Weeds", Floating Weeds is absolutely stunning. I'm not going to lie. This might be one of the few examples of where I like the silent version better. I do love this movie though.
  • dapperman85
    April 30, 2007
    dapperman85
    Ozu's distinct style is on display in this beautiful film about a man trying to sort out his priorities.

View All Floating Weeds (Ukigusa) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Roger Greenspun
May 9, 2005
Roger Greenspun, New York Times

Ozu is, however, very special in his technique, which by the end of his career, had become very modest, lucid and lovely. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Sooner or later, everyone who loves movies comes to Ozu. He is the quietest and gentlest of directors, the most humanistic, the most serene. But the emotions that flow through his films are strong and... Full Review

Dave Kehr
January 1, 2000
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

His spare, slow-moving films are not for all tastes, but once the rhythms are accepted, Ozu's work offers a unique emotional experience. Full Review

Philip French
July 28, 2008
Philip French, Observer [UK]

This is a vibrant movie, one of his few in colour, and touches on universal themes through the story of a middle-aged actor and his young mistress coming with a second-rate kabuki company to a small c... Full Review

Peter Bradshaw
July 28, 2008
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]

Ozu's familiar combination of melancholy regret and buoyant comic gaiety is beguilingly in evidence. Full Review

Tom Dawson
July 28, 2008
Tom Dawson, Total Film

A thoroughly absorbing affair. Full Review

Douglas Pratt
July 28, 2008
Douglas Pratt, DVDLaser

Yasujiro Ozu's film is in color, and the screen compositions are incredible.

July 28, 2008
TV Guide's Movie Guide

A variation on the theme of the family that pervades nearly all Ozu's pictures. Full Review

David Parkinson
December 30, 2006
David Parkinson, Empire Magazine

It's slow, slightly old fashioned, and one of Ozu's weaker works, but even in one of his lesser works there's still much to marvel at and appreciate. Full Review

Dan Jardine
December 22, 2006
Dan Jardine, Cinemania

As with much of Ozu's ouevre, verges on the melodramatic, but shows just enough restraint to prevent descent into such syrupy realms Full Review

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