Framed to Perfection XIV

KOZURE OKAMI SHINIKAZE NI MUKAU UBAGURUMA (1972)

Director: Kenji Misumi

Cinematographer: Chikashi Makiura

A moment of leafy tranquility before the build-up to the ridiculous, but awesome, two-against-an-army finale.

As always, I’m not terribly sure what’s going on in this foreign language scene, but it appears to be a magnificently edited passage of time, of the impressive sort that often gets analysed to death in film studies classes. Itto, or “Lone Wolf” to us daft Westerners, seems to have shut himself away in a hut or shack or cabin, whichever you prefer, deciding something important. Meanwhile, his tiny tot Daigoro, or “Cub”, patiently awaits his diva of a dad’s dark decision.

Eww, I’m not sure why I started talking like a scumbag alliterative British tabloid journalist there, but hey-ho.

I particularly enjoy the fact that the young actor is clearly staring directly at the fucking camera, most likely in anticipation of his cue from the director to get up and start moving about.

Oh well, I guess you can’t get everything right all the time.

Bless.

Do stay in touch, darlings.

Toodles!