Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Every-Night Dreams

Screenshot from the Youtube video embedded below

Every-Night Dreams is a 1933 silent film by director Mikio Naruse. It is the tragic story of a family struggling during the Depression. The woman works as a bar hostess trying to earn enough money to support her son. The estranged man of the household returns, insisting he'll get a job to support them. In the scene above, which takes place before her son's father returns, the older woman has brought the tea kettle to the younger woman's room and tries to convince the young mother to seek more respectable work for the sake of her son.

This is just an hour long and free to watch. You can't go wrong here, unless of course you prefer happier subject matter:

via Youtube:



Senses of Cinema says, "Everynight Dreams was successful not only because it created a convincing social context for the melodrama but also because it featured a very delicate performance by the silent star, Sumiko Kurishima, in the role of the heroine." Slant Magazine gives it 4 out of 4 stars.
DVD Talk calls it the "least hopeful" of Naruse's silents.

FilmRef.com says,
Mikio Naruse's elegantly distilled early silent film Every Night's Dreams provides an archetype for the filmmaker's recurring themes: pragmatic, determined women who tenaciously hold onto their failing relationships, weak men who lead a life of increasing dependence on the women they mistreat, life stations that grow baser as characters paradoxically strive to improve their situation.
I'm sure there are more hopeful posts over at Bleubeard and Elizabeth's weekly T party. Please join in the fun.

12 comments:

  1. It sounds like a very interesting film, thanks for the review. Happy T Day, hugs, Valerie

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  2. An interesting post, not sure that film would be one I would watch. It sounds quite a deep moving film.
    Happy T day
    Yvonne

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  3. Sounds like a moving film. Thanks for sharing it along with your thoughts. Happy T day!

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  4. When we get our TV fixed I think I would like to watch this! Happy T day! Chrisx

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  5. Thanks for your film recommendation and review, it does sound like such a heart breaking and tragic story! Wishing you a Happy T Day! J :-)

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  6. The tea pots look a great deal like the ones I shared today. Handmade and very large arms. Thanks for sharing this film with us. I started watching it, then realized I should probably let you know I am here to thank you for sharing this film with us for T this Tuesday. What I saw was quite sad, so I'm off the finish it.

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    1. I tend to like the old Japanese drama films. They show me so much about human nature. Some people end up in such sad situations :(

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  7. It sounds like it is worth watching. I'll have to set aside the time to do that. BTW, regarding my post on costs, if you are getting Peets in a grocery store you aren't getting a pound for that price - check the bag. I think they sell it in 12 oz bags. Still maybe cheaper that my pound bags from their shop.

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    1. Oh, yes, you are right! I was just thinking by the bag lol Not the bargain I was thinking then ;)

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  8. I always love to read your reviews...thank you for that ;))
    Happy T-day

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  9. i definitely plan to take time for this Video. thanks for the recommendation!
    happy belated t-day!

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  10. It sounds like an interesting movie and one I'll come back and watch when ever the hubby isn't on Netflex streaming war movies .

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