Ikebana (1957)/Tokyo 1958 (1958)/Hokusai (1953)/Ako (1964)

These were all short films that were included in the Criterion DVD set of Hiroshi Teshigahara films. The first three are all documentaries of varying quality. Ikebana discusses the Japanese art of flower arranging. It offers an interesting look into some beautiful pieces of artwork that expands beyond just flowers in a vase. Tokyo 1958 gives a glimpse into life in Tokyo during the late 1950s when its population was the largest in the world. Hokusai chronicles the life of the life of the artist. I thought I’d be most interested in this one because I’ve always liked the Great Wave Off Kanagawa, but for some reason, perhaps just its poor quality, it was a bit dull for me.

Ako is different than the other three shorts as it is a narrative film following a day in the life of a sixteen year old bakery worker. It’s a bit avant-garde in its presentation with dialogue that doesn’t match the film and often crosses over each other. The action is not told in a linear fashion either moving from work day to after hours and back again. Regardless, it’s an engrossing glimpse into the daily experiences of a group of 1960s Japanese teenagers.