#442: KINOSHITA, Keisuke: Twenty-Four Eyes (1954)

KINOSHITA, Keisuke (Japan)

Twenty-Four Eyes [1954]

Spine #442
DVD

Keisuke Kinoshita's Twenty-Four Eyes (Nijushi no hitomi) is an elegant, emotional chronicle of a teacher's unwavering commitment to her students, her profession, and her sense of morality. Set in a remote, rural island community and spanning decades of Japanese history, from 1928 through World War II and beyond, Kinoshita's film takes a simultaneously sober and sentimental look at the epic themes of aging, war, and death, all from the lovingly intimate perspective of Hisako Oishi (Hideko Takamine), as she watches her pupils grow and deal with life's harsh realities. Though little known in the United States, Twenty-Four Eyes is one of Japan's most popular and enduring classics.

156 minutes
Black & White

Monaural

in Japanese

1:33:1 aspect ratio

Criterion Release 2008

Director/Writer

Keisuke Kinoshita was 42 when he wrote and directed Twenty-Four Eyes.

Other Kinoshita films in the Collection:

Eclipse Series 41: Port Of Flowers (1943)
Eclipse Series 41: The Living Magoroku (1943)
Eclipse Series 41: Jubilation Street (1944)
Eclipse Series 41: Army (1944)
Eclipse Series 41: Morning For The Osone Family (1946)
#645: The Ballad Of Narayama (1958)

The Film

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

Twenty-four page booklet featuring an essay by film scholar Audie Bock and an excerpt from a 1955 interview with Kinoshita.

Commentary

None.

Video interview

With Japanese cinema historian and critic Tadao Sato about the film and its director.

Theatrical teasers

Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

99

By Director
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