Previously released on Criterion DVD in 2004, this Ozu double feature finally gets a Blu-ray upgrade with newly improved technical specs. It remains a unique look at a master filmmaker’s early and late career approaches to the same story. The original, filmed in 1934, is a silent black-and-white film, while the remake from 1959 is in luminous color.
Buy A Story of Floating Weeds / Floating Weeds Criterion Collection Blu-rayThe story of both films involves a traveling theater troupe descending on a small town for a series of performances. The aging head of the troupe once had a secret relationship with a lady of the town, resulting in a now-adult son who thinks the man is his uncle. Unfortunately, the actor’s current girlfriend and fellow actress is so jealous of his attention to his old flame that she convinces a young actress in the troupe to seduce the son, setting off a wave of betrayals and revelations that threatens to destroy the status quo for all of the players.
A Story of Floating Weeds (1934) recounts the story in a perfunctory 1 ½ hours, with Ozu keeping tight focus on the story with very little frills. It’s beautifully photographed, and his actors do a fine job, although the lead actor seems so happy-go-lucky that his later rage at betrayal is never fully convincing. This is the straight-no-chaser version of the story, all plot with little adornment, setting the stage for Ozu’s later revisit where he takes inspiration from key scenes established here, particularly a train station reconciliation involving shared cigarettes.
Floating Weeds (1959) benefits immensely from Ozu’s 25 intervening years perfecting his craft. As he neared the end of his career and life, he added mature depth to the story and characters, stretching the tale out to a luxurious two hours. Here he’s much more concerned with the staging, artistically constructing shots right from the opening frames of a lighthouse juxtaposed with a similarly shaped bottle on shore. He also benefits from a superb cast all around, although the lead character is so physically abusive to the two ladies from his troupe that he loses sympathy in this retelling.
Although Story is a silent film, the Blu-ray retains the original DVD’s full commissioned score by composer Donald Sosin, here upgraded to 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio. Sosin’s work remains lovely accompaniment for the film, neither too distracting or anachronistic to pull viewers out of Ozu reverie. The film is presented in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio from a high-definition digital master, with nicely defined but occasionally inconsistent contrast levels due to the source film. There are no new bonus features, just the commentary track from the DVD. A new subtitle translation has been added.
Floating Weeds is sourced from a new 4K digital master with new uncompressed monaural soundtrack. Colors retain the look of the original film, ensuring adherence to its production era rather than modern dynamic range enhancements. The 1.37:1 image and soundtrack are clear of any blemishes, and the step up to Blu-ray makes for a richer, more satisfying viewing experience. As with the other film, no new bonus features are included, aside from a new subtitle translation. Roger Ebert’s original DVD commentary track is back for the Blu.
It’s not often that films get a do-over by the original creator, but Ozu proved it worthwhile with his first draft and its potent remake. Criterion’s double pack is an essential look at a story evolved over the course of an iconic director’s career, now re-released in top-notch Blu-ray quality.
