I do love Naruse, but maybe I missed something about this film. All the ideas are there. It follows a groupof retired geisha, each trying to survive in the world past their prime. One has saved money and has become a scrupulous business woman. She lends money, but demands it back in a friendly, casual, but threatening
way. Her old friends hold her in contempt, and believe she thinks she is better than them now. She has erased men from her life and she holds this as the reason to her success. Needless to say, some old flames soon arrive and she flirts with the idea of love once again. The film isn't bad, just very dull. I love my slow movies, but this was all talking. Everyone just says what they think, feel, and so on. It makes for a very bland movie experience. Especially when two characters spell out the films message at the end. I know this film was adapted from a number of short stories, and it kind of shows. Though these would work better bas articles. Don't start your Naruse viewing with this, as he has some incredible movies out there.
May 7, 2011
