← Back to Reviews
in
Humanity and Paper Balloon (1937) N+R
Watched this couple of months ago for the first time but didn't review it because I chose to nominate it for the second 1930s HoF. So this is a review based both on the first and second viewing.
The film takes place in 18th century Japan and focuses on people living in sort of a slum district full of small rental apartments. The main protagonists are Unno, a samurai without a master, and Shinza, a barber who also runs illegal gambling events. Unno desperately tries to gain the attention of his father's former master but past services hold little value. Shinza mostly wants to humiliate the local ringleader who doesn't like competition for his gambling sites.
The way how sad and tragic story is told in seemingly light and happy fashion is interesting. In some ways it undermines the tragedy but it also makes suffering and unhappiness seem more casual, more normal and expected. I'd suppose Humanity and Paper Balloons is surprisingly funny for such a pessimistic movie.
At the heart of the film is a conflict of two different sets of values. On one end is Unno and his blind faith towards honor and personal pride. On the other end are Mouri, former master of Unno's father, and the landlord who rents the slum houses who both value money and personal gain over anything. Somewhere in between is the barber Shinza who gets into trouble for his greed but retaliates to mend his hurt self-esteem. Being a pessimistic film it's not very hard to guess which people are doing better in the end.
There are many hilarious scenes (like the fishmonger in the street and the sake dripping wake) that made me laugh out loud. Very few scenes are made overtly dramatic and the overall feeling is kinda like watching an alcoholic doing something stupid - you may chuckle but deep down you know it's actually really sad. I don't think it succeeds perfectly in this but I like the idea.
The kidnapping part of the film is the weakest. It just feels pointless and too certain to fail from the beginning. I think it also made Shinza too focused on his pride, especially in the very end where he suddenly faces death with calm and honor. In few places the film drags a little and some scenes go on for too long (like Shinza trying to pawn his barber kit).
Good tragicomedy that hides its sadness behind jolly surface. I don't think it's the masterpiece some claim it to be but it's definitely a good one.
Watched this couple of months ago for the first time but didn't review it because I chose to nominate it for the second 1930s HoF. So this is a review based both on the first and second viewing.
The film takes place in 18th century Japan and focuses on people living in sort of a slum district full of small rental apartments. The main protagonists are Unno, a samurai without a master, and Shinza, a barber who also runs illegal gambling events. Unno desperately tries to gain the attention of his father's former master but past services hold little value. Shinza mostly wants to humiliate the local ringleader who doesn't like competition for his gambling sites.
The way how sad and tragic story is told in seemingly light and happy fashion is interesting. In some ways it undermines the tragedy but it also makes suffering and unhappiness seem more casual, more normal and expected. I'd suppose Humanity and Paper Balloons is surprisingly funny for such a pessimistic movie.
At the heart of the film is a conflict of two different sets of values. On one end is Unno and his blind faith towards honor and personal pride. On the other end are Mouri, former master of Unno's father, and the landlord who rents the slum houses who both value money and personal gain over anything. Somewhere in between is the barber Shinza who gets into trouble for his greed but retaliates to mend his hurt self-esteem. Being a pessimistic film it's not very hard to guess which people are doing better in the end.
There are many hilarious scenes (like the fishmonger in the street and the sake dripping wake) that made me laugh out loud. Very few scenes are made overtly dramatic and the overall feeling is kinda like watching an alcoholic doing something stupid - you may chuckle but deep down you know it's actually really sad. I don't think it succeeds perfectly in this but I like the idea.
The kidnapping part of the film is the weakest. It just feels pointless and too certain to fail from the beginning. I think it also made Shinza too focused on his pride, especially in the very end where he suddenly faces death with calm and honor. In few places the film drags a little and some scenes go on for too long (like Shinza trying to pawn his barber kit).
Good tragicomedy that hides its sadness behind jolly surface. I don't think it's the masterpiece some claim it to be but it's definitely a good one.