Product Code Database
Keisuke Kinoshita's Twenty-four Eyes - which beat Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai as Kinema Junpo's Best Film of 1954 and won the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film in 1955 - is one of Japan's most beloved films. In 1999 it was picked by Japanese critics as one of the ten best Japanese films of all time. Spanning a twenty-year period Twenty-four Eyes tells the story of a bright young teacher Hisaki Oishi (Hideko Takamine) and her ongoing relationship with the class of twelve children charmingly played at various stages of their lives by non-professional local children and young adults. The aging schoolmaster (Chishu Ryu) recognizes her talent but Hisaki is mistrusted by the remote island community. In time both the children and adults fall under the spell of this modern headstrong city-girl - only to see the impending war change their lives for good.Twenty-four Eyes came to redefine Japan's national identity with its cry for pacifism and its reverence for the innocence of youth. As cherished today as it was in 1954 this film is sublime soul-stirring drama skilfully and gracefully directed by Kinoshita.
|
|
