Kisses
MASUMURA Yasuzo 増村保造
くちづけ
Kuchiduke

Kisses ©KADOKAWA CORPORATION 1957
Japan
1957
74
Black & white
English
subtitles

A delivery boy meets an artist’s model when they are visiting their respective fathers in prison. After successfully gambling on a bicycle race, they spend an enjoyable day together. They hit the beach, attempt to reconcile with their families, and fall in love. A sublime snapshot of aimless, post-war Japanese youth brimming with vitality and compassion and laced with carefree optimism and sincerity. A unique variation on the popular Sun Tribe genre in the 1950s.

Een bezorger ontmoet een kunstenaarsmodel terwijl ze hun vaders in de gevangenis opzoeken. Nadat ze geld hebben gewonnen door te gokken op een fietsrace, brengen ze samen een fijne dag door. Ze gaan naar het strand, proberen zich met hun families te verzoenen en worden verliefd op elkaar. Een sublieme blik op de doelloze Japanse jeugd na de Tweede Wereldoorlog, met vitaliteit, compassie en zorgeloos optimisme. Een unieke variatie op het in de jaren ’50 populaire Sun Tribe-genre.

MASUMURA Yasuzo 増村保造 (1924-1986) was a major postwar Japanese filmmaker. His contributions to the Japanese New Wave and beyond have long gone unrecognised in the West. This is finally changing and he is now getting the recognition he deserves. In 1951 he went to Italy to study under Michelangelo ANTONIONI, Federico FELLINI and Luchino VISCONTI. On his return to Japan, he started his directing career as assistant director to MIZOGUCHI Kenji and ICHIKAWA Kon. MASUMURA made his debut as director in 1957 with Kisses, and went on to direct 58 films in a variety of genres and styles. In 2008 CAMERA JAPAN dedicated a small programme to a few of his literary adaptations. In 2024, we are showcasing five major works from the 1950s and 1960s in a special retrospective.

1978 – The Love Suicides at Sonezaki 曽根崎心中
1973 – Hanzo the Razor: The Snare 御用牙 かみそり半蔵地獄責め
1972 – Music 音楽
1969 – Blind Beast 盲獣
1967 – The Wife of Seishu Hanaoka 華岡青洲の妻 (CJ 2008)
1966 – Irezumi 刺青
1966 – Red Angel 赤い天使
1966 – Nakano Spy School 陸軍中野学校 (CJ 2024)
1965 – Hoodlum Soldier 兵隊やくざ (CJ 2024) (CJ 2008)
1964 – All Mixed Up 卍 (CJ 2024)
1962 – Black Test Car 黒の試走車#映画
1961 – The Wife’s Confession 妻は告白する(CJ 2024)
1960 – Afraid to Die からっ風野郎
1958 – Giants and Toys 巨人と玩具
1957 – Warm Current 暖流 (CJ 2008)
1957 – The Blue Sky Maiden 青空娘 (CJ 2008)
1957 – Kisses くちづけ (CJ 2024)