User reviews

A musical biopic of the blind shamisen (a Japanese string instrument) player Chikuzan Takahashi. Narratively, it's pretty standard - one might call it the Japanese Ray and not be too far off. But it's well acted and well shot, with a lot of interesting settings and period detail (the setting is early 20th Century rural Japan, up to WWII). Ryuzo Hayashi stars as Chikuzan. Kaneto Shindo's wife and frequent star Nobuko Otowa co-stars as Chikuzan's mother. Well worth checking out if you can find it. This was nominated for the Japanese Academy award for Best Picture in the first year of its existence, but lost to Yoji Yamada's The Yellow Handkerchief.

Written, directed and independently produced by Kaneto Shindo this outstanding film is an absorbing biopic of renowned musician & composer Takahashi Chikuzan. Opening the film, shamisen in hand, the elderly musician recalls his past & the cause of his childhood blindness. A naturally gifted musician, his fate & destiny, a life as a beggar on a wandering musical path. Shifting from a brief documentary style opening, interweaving re-enactments reveal the past, & eventually form to dramatize the compelling life story of Takahashi Chikuzan. Criss-crossing Japan, his travels from home to the far north and beyond become a fascinating road trip journey, highlighting along the way many of Japan's spectacular geographical locations. Stunning cinematography captures the raw beauty, portraying in varying colour tones the many moods of the meandering tale with exquisitely beautiful portraits. Featured throughout Tsugaru-jamisen, a unique Japanese genre of shamisen music originating from the Tsugaru Peninsula. A master of the instrument Takahashi Chikuzan's composition & folk song are incredibly enchanting, an absolute delight to experience. As the last frame dissolved, tears of heartfelt joy, profoundly expressed closing thoughts on this beautifully composed, classic cinematic wonder. Highly Recommended !!