*** (Worth seeing)
Directed by Hiroshi Shimizu
Written by Masao Arata and Tobei Kujiraya
With Shûji Sano, Shin’ichi Himori and Toshiaki Konoe
Hiroshi Shimizu said himself that some of the movies he made he had to make, so that the studio would allow him to make movies that were truly his own. Forced to make a film to boost the war effort, with his human touch, Shimizu more or less makes the army a side topic in this lighthearted “comedy” flick.
The plot is generally not the focus of the works of Shimizu. The same goes for The Star Athlete, which is basically structured around a four or five scenes. As goes for all films seen by this director, the direction is a true delight, with excellent tracking shots and use of real location.
Legendary actor Chishu Ryu, who appeared in almost every work by Ozu, also collaborated many times with Shimizu. Here he stars as one of the leads. Going through the works of this director, it’s impossible not to consider him on par with the some of the best of his generation.
Millennium Actors 