Kinoshita and World War II (Eclipse #41, DVD)

Hugely popular in his home country of Japan, Keisuke Kinoshita worked tirelessly as a director for nearly half a century, making lyrical, sentimental films that often center on the inherent goodness of people, especially in times of distress. He began his directing career during a most challenging time for Japanese cinema: World War II, when the industrys output was closely monitored by the state and often had to be purely propagandistic. This collection of Kinoshitas first filmsfour made while the war was going on and one shortly after Japans surrenderdemonstrates the way the filmmakers humanity and exquisite cinematic technique shone through even in the darkest of times.

Port of Flowers 1943
The sweet but naive denizens of a charming port town are hoodwinked by a couple of con men at the outset of World War II. But the hustlers plan backfires when they come down with severe cases of conscience. Keisuke Kinoshitas directorial debut is a breezy, warmhearted, and often very funny crowd-pleaser thats a testament to the filmmakers faith in people.

The Living Magoroku 1943
A superstitious farming family is hesitant to use its fields to grow crops to help feed the nations troops. Keisuke Kinoshitas rural drama was made to promote the war effort, but his story branches off in many directions, including one subplot about the familys heirloom samurai sword and another about a blossoming young romance.

Jubilation Street 1944
As World War II escalates, the tight-knit inhabitants of a street in Tokyo must relocate from their homes so the government can use the space. Kinoshitas sensitive filmbeautifully and resourcefully shottraces the fears and desires of the evacuees.

Army
Army 1944
Kinoshitas ambitious and intensely moving film begins as a multigenerational epic about the military legacy of one Japanese family, before settling into an emotionally complex portrayal of parental love during wartime. As the mother and father of a boy shipped off to battle, Kinuyo Tanaka and Chishu Ryu locate profound depths of feeling that transcend ideology.

Morning for the Osone Family 1946
Kinoshitas first film after the end of World War II is a wrenching, superbly wrought tale about a liberal-minded Japanese family torn apart by war and imperialist politics. Morning for the Osone Family is both palpably bitter about the nations fresh wartime wounds and inspiringly hopeful about a democratic tomorrow.