THE CITIZEN INDEX

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Pale Flower, First Spring



  

"Reality for its own sake is not what interests me. If my films had to be perfect reconstructions of reality, I would not make them. I begin with reality and see what higher idea comes out of it."
-Shinoda Masahiro

One of the best movies I saw last year, was made in 1964. Kawaita Hana (Pale Flower) is a Japanese yakuza film directed by Shinoda Masahiro. It is a story about a yakuzu gangster but it is also so much more than that. There are so many beautiful scenes; I am surprised that there aren't more movie stills available. The film's main characters, Muraki & Saeko are dressed impeccably and the cinematography is so gorgeous it's is almost a character in itself. It is the ultimate in uber-cool.  

The following is Yang Fudong's short film entitled "First Spring."  It comprises of beautiful somnambulistic imagery depicting Prada's latest clothing collection. Reminiscent, to me, in mood, in style of the above film.  Dreamy & surreal, seemingly possessing more below the surface.  And selling Prada.




3 comments:

Marta said...

i have to admit that this is the first time i have heard of this film. well, i'm not japaneese film's fan, but my best friend is and consequently i'm up to date. at the moment i'm watching that is everything but not ambitious indeed.

the Citizen Rosebud said...

Marta, I hope you have a chance to see this film. The look of it is so beautiful, and not dated and old-fashioned looking like some older movies tend to look. This is cinematic eye-candy. xo. -Bella Q

Sara said...

Oh I want to see that film! I love old movies, I know a lot of people do but there is a reason why, it's almost an escape.

Thanks for all the sweet comments! You are such a sweetie, I love the advice on titles, I may have to pester you down the road to help me out with a few.

You actually gave me an idea on the muu-muu. I think I might try to do a remix on mine and do a post, some different ways to wear it. For now I would say if yours are really long, to shorten them a little, mine is knee-length, you can always just pin it up if you don't want to chop it. :)