Equinox Flower
Encyclopedia
is a 1958 color Japanese film
directed by Yasujiro Ozu
. It is Yasujiro Ozu's first film in color while Japan's first color film, Keisuke Kinoshita
's Carmen Comes Home
, had been released in 1951. The film is based on a novel by Ton Satomi
. The movie's titular flower is a Lycoris
.
) is a wealthy Tokyo
businessman who acts as a go-between for couples seeking marriages. When an old schoolmate Mikami (Chishu Ryu
) approaches him for help concerning his daughter Fumiko (Yoshiko Kuga
), who has run off owing to a conflict with her father, he agrees. Finding her in a bar where she now works, he listens to her side of the story. Fumiko complains that her father is stubborn, insisting on arranging her marriage, whereas she has now fallen in love with a musician and is adamant to lead life her own way.
One day during work, a young man named Taniguchi (Keiji Sada
) approaches Hirayama to ask for the hand of his elder daughter, Setsuko (Ineko Arima
). Hirayama is extremely unhappy that his daughter has made wedding plans on her own. He confronts her at home, during which he blows his top, and rules that she must remain locked at home until she sees the folly of her ways. Hirayama tries to find out more about Taniguchi from his subordinate.
Owing to the standoff, his daughter's friend Yukiko (Fujiko Yamamoto
) tries a ruse in which she asks Hirayama opinion concerning a similar situation – her mother forcing her to marry someone she didn't like. When Hirayama advises her to ignore her mother, Yukiko reveals it is all a setup and states that Hirayama has just given his consent to Setsuko's marriage.
Hirayama's wife Kiyoko (Kinuyo Tanaka
) tries unsuccessfully to make him change his mind. She accuses her husband of being "inconsistent". Even his younger daughter Hisako (Miyuki Kuwano) is on the side of her sister, finding her father too old-fashioned. Finally, after the couple's insistence on getting married, Hirayama decides to give in by attending his daughter's wedding.
After the wedding, Mikami reveals that he, like Hirayama, has agreed to let his daughter select her own marriage partner. After going for a short business trip outside Tokyo, Hirayama decides to visit the newly-weds at Hiroshima
by train, where Taniguchi is stationed by his company.
Cinema of Japan
The has a history that spans more than 100 years. Japan has one of the oldest and largest film industries in the world – as of 2009 the fourth largest by number of feature films produced. Movies have been produced in Japan since 1897, when the first foreign cameramen arrived...
directed by Yasujiro Ozu
Yasujiro Ozu
was a prominent Japanese film director and script writer. He is known for his distinctive technical style, developed during the silent era. Marriage and family, especially the relationships between the generations, are among the most persistent themes in his body of work...
. It is Yasujiro Ozu's first film in color while Japan's first color film, Keisuke Kinoshita
Keisuke Kinoshita
was a Japanese film director.Although lesser known internationally than his fellow filmmakers such as Akira Kurosawa , Kenji Mizoguchi and Yasujirō Ozu , Keisuke Kinoshita was nonetheless a household figure at home beloved by audience and critics alike, especially in the forties through the sixties...
's Carmen Comes Home
Carmen Comes Home
is a 1951 color Japanese film comedy directed by Keisuke Kinoshita. Filmed using Fujicolor, it was Japan's first color film.- Cast :* Hideko Takamine as Lily Carmen, Aoyama Kin* Shūji Sano as the blind man Haruo Taguchi* Chishu Ryu as schoolmaster...
, had been released in 1951. The film is based on a novel by Ton Satomi
Satomi Ton
is the pen-name for a Japanese author known for the craftsmanship of his dialogue and command of the Japanese language. His two elder brothers, Ikuma Arishima and Takeo Arishima , were also authors...
. The movie's titular flower is a Lycoris
Lycoris (genus)
Lycoris is a genus of 13–20 species of flowering plants in the family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae. They are native to eastern and southern Asia in Japan, southern Korea, eastern and southern China, northern Vietnam, northern Laos, northern Thailand, northern Burma, Nepal, northern...
.
Plot
Wataru Hirayama (Shin SaburiShin Saburi
Shin Saburi was a Japanese film actor noted for his leading roles in a number of films by the director Yasujiro Ozu including Brothers and Sisters of the Toda Family , Tea Over Rice , Equinox Flower and Late Autumn .-Selected filmography:* 1941 Brothers and...
) is a wealthy Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
businessman who acts as a go-between for couples seeking marriages. When an old schoolmate Mikami (Chishu Ryu
Chishu Ryu
was a famous Japanese film actor, a favourite of the director Yasujiro Ozu. From 1928 to 1992 he appeared in at least 155 films, including Ozu's Tokyo Story and Yoshitaro Nomura's Castle of Sand...
) approaches him for help concerning his daughter Fumiko (Yoshiko Kuga
Yoshiko Kuga
is a Japanese actress.-Biography and personal life:Kuga was born in Tokyo, Japan. Her father, Michiaki Koga , was a marquis and a member of House of Peers....
), who has run off owing to a conflict with her father, he agrees. Finding her in a bar where she now works, he listens to her side of the story. Fumiko complains that her father is stubborn, insisting on arranging her marriage, whereas she has now fallen in love with a musician and is adamant to lead life her own way.
One day during work, a young man named Taniguchi (Keiji Sada
Keiji Sada
was a Japanese actor. He won the award for best actor at the 7th Blue Ribbon Awards for Anata kaimasu and Taifū sōdōki. He was the father of the actor Kiichi Nakai.-Filmography:* Kane no naru oka: Dai san hen, kuro no maki...
) approaches Hirayama to ask for the hand of his elder daughter, Setsuko (Ineko Arima
Ineko Arima
Ineko Arima was a Japanese film actress born in 1932 in Osaka. She is best known for her work with director Yasujiro Ozu-Selected filmography:* Black River * Tokyo Twilight...
). Hirayama is extremely unhappy that his daughter has made wedding plans on her own. He confronts her at home, during which he blows his top, and rules that she must remain locked at home until she sees the folly of her ways. Hirayama tries to find out more about Taniguchi from his subordinate.
Owing to the standoff, his daughter's friend Yukiko (Fujiko Yamamoto
Fujiko Yamamoto
is a Japanese film and stage actress. She appeared in over 100 films between 1953 and 1963. She is the winner of the first Grand Prix of Miss Japan in 1950.-Career:...
) tries a ruse in which she asks Hirayama opinion concerning a similar situation – her mother forcing her to marry someone she didn't like. When Hirayama advises her to ignore her mother, Yukiko reveals it is all a setup and states that Hirayama has just given his consent to Setsuko's marriage.
Hirayama's wife Kiyoko (Kinuyo Tanaka
Kinuyo Tanaka
was a Japanese actress and director.Tanaka was born in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. She became a leading actress at an early age, appearing in Yasujirō Ozu's I Graduated, But... in 1929...
) tries unsuccessfully to make him change his mind. She accuses her husband of being "inconsistent". Even his younger daughter Hisako (Miyuki Kuwano) is on the side of her sister, finding her father too old-fashioned. Finally, after the couple's insistence on getting married, Hirayama decides to give in by attending his daughter's wedding.
After the wedding, Mikami reveals that he, like Hirayama, has agreed to let his daughter select her own marriage partner. After going for a short business trip outside Tokyo, Hirayama decides to visit the newly-weds at Hiroshima
Hiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
by train, where Taniguchi is stationed by his company.
Cast
- Shin SaburiShin SaburiShin Saburi was a Japanese film actor noted for his leading roles in a number of films by the director Yasujiro Ozu including Brothers and Sisters of the Toda Family , Tea Over Rice , Equinox Flower and Late Autumn .-Selected filmography:* 1941 Brothers and...
... Wataru Hirayama - Kinuyo TanakaKinuyo Tanakawas a Japanese actress and director.Tanaka was born in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. She became a leading actress at an early age, appearing in Yasujirō Ozu's I Graduated, But... in 1929...
... Kiyoko Hirayama - Ineko ArimaIneko ArimaIneko Arima was a Japanese film actress born in 1932 in Osaka. She is best known for her work with director Yasujiro Ozu-Selected filmography:* Black River * Tokyo Twilight...
... Setsuko Hirayama - Miyuki Kuwano ... Hisako Hirayama
- Yoshiko KugaYoshiko Kugais a Japanese actress.-Biography and personal life:Kuga was born in Tokyo, Japan. Her father, Michiaki Koga , was a marquis and a member of House of Peers....
... Fumiko Mikami - Chishu RyuChishu Ryuwas a famous Japanese film actor, a favourite of the director Yasujiro Ozu. From 1928 to 1992 he appeared in at least 155 films, including Ozu's Tokyo Story and Yoshitaro Nomura's Castle of Sand...
... Shukichi Mikami - Fujiko YamamotoFujiko Yamamotois a Japanese film and stage actress. She appeared in over 100 films between 1953 and 1963. She is the winner of the first Grand Prix of Miss Japan in 1950.-Career:...
... Yukiko Sasaki