Kazahana

There’s nothing straightforward about this film’s narration. With each of the numerous flashbacks, twists and leaps in time, a new level of understanding is attained, another backstory emerges and a fresh perspective is revealed on the ill-fated love between the young Sakura and her cousin Suteo – a love, however, that is torn apart by questions of status, fame (both which lost) and shame (neither forgotten nor forgiven). All three founders of the Ninjin Club appear together on screen, each taking a different stance: Sakura (Yoshiko Kuga) as a young woman forced to consent to an arranged marriage with a wealthy man; her mother Sachiko (Ineko Arima), who is accused of failing to contribute to the household’s financial stability; and Haruko (Keiko Kishi), who can understand her son’s heartbreak all too well against the backdrop of her own experiences. A moving film characterized by desaturated colors, a barren landscape and a timeless atmosphere. (mg)