Humanity Paper Balloon - Ninjo Kami Fuusen

A Japanese film from 1937 (Showa 12), directed by Yamanaka Sadao. Shinzo (Nakamura Kan'emon, 1901-1982), who is being chased by the yakuza for invading their territory, kidnaps the daughter of a pawnbroker. Meanwhile, the efforts of the ronin Umino (Kawarazaki Chojuro, 1902-1981), who is serving as a police officer, are not rewarded. With Umino's help, the kidnapping is successful, but Shinzo is challenged to a duel by the yakuza. Umino is caught up in the double suicide of his wife and loses his life. Although this film has been criticized for its gloomy and pessimistic views, it is also important to note that it vividly depicts the toughness of ordinary people, such as the cheerfulness of the tenement residents at the funeral banquet and Shinzo's rebellious spirit that refuses to give in even after suffering painful experiences. Although it is highly regarded as a masterpiece, it is also important in film history as one of the few surviving films by Yamanaka. Yamanaka received his draft notice on the day of the film's release and was reluctant for this to be his last work, but he died of an illness in China the following year, and this became his last work.

[Hiroshi Ishizuka]

"31 Film Directors of the World: Japanese Film History" (1976, Kinema Junposha)" ▽ "200 Japanese Films: The Best 200 in Film History Series" (1982, Kinema Junposha) ▽ "Sato Tadao, Japanese Film History 1, 4, Expanded Edition (2006, Iwanami Shoten)" ▽ "Inomata Katsuhito and Tayama Rikiya, Complete History of Japanese Film Directors, Vol. 1" (Shakai Shisosha, Gendai Kyoyo Bunko) ▽ "Bungeishunju, ed., "The Best 150 Japanese Films -- Based on a Large-Scale Survey" (Bunshun Bunko Visual Edition)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

日本映画。1937年（昭和12）、山中貞雄(やまなかさだお)監督。縄張り荒らしでやくざに追われる新三（中村翫右衛門(なかむらかんえもん)、1901―1982）は質屋の娘を誘拐する。一方、浪人海野（河原崎長十郎(かわらざきちょうじゅうろう)、1902―1981）の仕官の努力は報われない。誘拐は海野の協力で成功するが、新三はやくざに決闘を申し込まれる。海野は妻の無理心中に巻き込まれて命を落とす。暗さや厭世(えんせい)観が指摘される本作だが、葬儀の宴での長屋住人の明るさ、痛い目に遭(あ)っても屈しない新三の反骨心といった市井の人々の逞(たくま)しさが活写されている面も看過できない。名作の誉れ高いが、山中の監督作の数少ない現存作品という点でも映画史的に重要である。封切日に召集令状を受けた山中は、本作が遺作になることを嫌ったが、翌年、中国で病死したため本作が遺作となった。

［石塚洋史］

『『世界の映画作家31　日本映画史』（1976・キネマ旬報社）』▽『『映画史上ベスト200シリーズ　日本映画200』（1982・キネマ旬報社）』▽『佐藤忠男著『日本映画史1、4』増補版（2006・岩波書店）』▽『猪俣勝人・田山力哉著『日本映画作家全史　上』（社会思想社・現代教養文庫）』▽『文芸春秋編『日本映画ベスト150――大アンケートによる』（文春文庫ビジュアル版）』

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