Ukigusa monogatari = A story of floating weeds
(DVD)

Includes the original 1934, black & white, silent film "A Story of Floating Weeds" and the 1959 color remake "Floating Weeds."

Based on a story by Jēmusu Maki.

Credits from English subtitles.

Features: Disc 1: new score by Donald Sosin, audio commentary by Donald Richie ; Disc 2: original theatrical trailer, audio commentary by Roger Ebert.

1st work: Photographed by Hideo Mohara ; optional new score by David Sosin. 2nd work: Photography by Kazuo Miyagawa ; editing, Toyo Suzuki ; music, Kojun Saito.

1st work: Takeshi Sakamoto, Choko Iida, Hideo Mitsui, Rieko Yagumo, Yoshiko Tsubouchi, Tokkan-Kozo. 2nd work: Ganjiro Nakamura, Machiko Kyo, Ayako Wakao.

In 1959, Yasujiro Ozu remade his 1934 silent film: A Story of Floating Weeds in color and sound with the cinematographer Kazuo Miyagawa (Rashomon, Ugetsu). Setting his later version in a seaside location, Ozu otherwise preserves the details of his elegantly simple plot wherein an aging actor returns to a small town with his troupe and reunities with his former lover and illegitimate son, a scenario that enrages his current mistress and results in heartbreak for all. A Story of Floating Weeds reveals Ozu in the midst of developing his mode of expression; Floating weeds reveals his distinct style at its pinnacle. In each, the director captures the joy and sadness in everyday life.

A traveling actor meets his grown illegitimate son for the first time and must decide if he should maintain the secret of his paternity, or reveal himself as the young man's father.

DVD, NTSC, region 1, 1.33:1 aspect ratio; Dolby digital mono., Dolby digital 5.0.

A story of floating weeds: silent film with Japanese intertitles, optional English subtitles. Floating weeds: Japanese dialogue with optional English subtitles.